Former Republican Party president Gwanda Chakuamba has been warned from political prostitution and beware of liars who tell him the people of the North support his idea to disband the party.
A stunned Chakuamba could not believe his ears when delegates to the Northern Region meeting said his decision to join the DPP has made people question his leadership style.
Grant Msaladza from Rumphi told Chakuamba not to overestimate his popularity in the North because it was based on his principle of not moving from one party to another. “People loved you because for 10 years you never changed parties. But with this, how are we going to tell them that you still have that principle?” he asked.
He warned him that his actions may lead to similar fate as that experienced by suspended Aford president Chakufwa Chihana.
Earlier on RP district governor for Mzimba North Kazwell Mhango told Chakuamba that all the people including religious leaders told him that they would agree with whatever Chakuamba would tell them.
He said people still loved Chakuamba because he was the one Kamuzu appointed to take over and that the people have trust with whatever he decides to do.
But Msaladza quashed those comments, saying they were Mhango’s personal views and not those of the people. “Mr. President, you told us on Friday that you wanted to talk to us on Sunday. How can a person meet and get the views of the people (of Mzimba) within 48 hours?” he asked.
He asked Chakuamba to let them go to the supporters and ask them their views before making a final decision about whether to disband or not.
Another delegate from Mzuzu City told Chakuamba that what some people were telling him was not exactly what was on the ground. “Mr. President, no one in the city supports the idea of disbanding. If you have intelligence officers, send them throughout Mzuzu City and you will be shocked with the outcome,” he said.
He said those who said their members supported the idea of RP dissolution were only trying to please him. He warned that such people are the ones that make leaders dictators.
The delegate wondered how Chakuamba could come to the North to get people’s opinion when he had already left and joined the DPP. He said the people were still waiting to have the convention and decide the fate of the RP.
This did not go well with Chakuamba who stood on a point of order, saying people should understand that politics is over and that it is time for development. “Members from Rumphi should know that things moved so fast that it was not easy to just stay and do nothing. The development programme Bingu has put in place needs our support,” he said.
Earlier on, Chakuamba told the delegates that Mutharika asked him to form a party because he was planning to leave the UDF.
“Bingu told me that he was facing problems in UDF and that Bakili [Muluzi] was treating him like a small kid. He said we should form a party,” he said.
Chakuamba said he suggested that the party should be called United Republican Party but Mutharika thought the name would portray him as if he had joined RP.
He said thereafter they agreed that they should have another name but RP should contribute the symbol of maize cobs. “The committee was set up to look into all the issues affecting the new party and we were represented by Bazuka Mhango, Abbie Shawa and David Faiti,” he said.
He said he was going to de-register the Republican Party and that those who are resisting would meet him in court.
Those who supported the dissolution won the day but controversial Mzuzu City MP Good Kaira said there was no way the party can dissolve but there is chance that those who want to leave the party and join DPP should go.
Speaking before Gwanda arrived, Kaira said the meeting was actually for the DPP because Chakuamba was already out of the party.