DPP 'the ruling party' is riddled in political turmoil with people vying for positions either withdrawing or protesting the results. Our reporter Rex Chikoko met one of the people, who was literally disqualified from the party, Lawrence Bisika and excerpts:
You were supposed to be one of the contestants in the Zomba Central constituency for the DPP and you claim that the party disqualified you. You happen to be the only contestant to have been disqualified, would you let us know what happened.
Honestly, I do not understand what really happened. All I was told by the regional governor was that there were 'orders from above' restraining me from contesting though my nomination form was accepted at regional level, without giving grounds for the unfortunate order. In short, there were no primary elections for ZA Central and the party simply imposed Mussa who solicited support from the executive in fear of what the elections had in store for him having failed to bring any meaningful development to the constituency apart from an acclaimed K2 million bridge which is already collapsing.
You have mentioned that it was the police who actually told you that you are disqualified. Did he give reasons why he acted that way and why did you not take up the matter with party hierarchy?
Yes, I was informed of the development by the Police Officer in Charge who was almost working like Hon. Mussa's personal assistant but he too had no details and only maintained that he was working on instructions from above.
Then what do you want the party to do now, are you demanding for a rerun for the primary elections or you are demanding your money back since you did not contest?
This is politics and I guess all this was a political gimmick to shield a minister that has not performed and I am not surprised, so I will treat it as such.
DPP elections have been marred by irregularities, we have heard reasons from the party officials, and what could you say as one of the contestant?
DPP primaries all over the country are being conducted by interested parties, talk of a minister conducting primaries where a fellow minister is contesting, there can in no way be a level playing ground. Thats what happens when there is a conflict of interests.
Political analysts have claimed that the biggest problem of the DPP is that it has no party structures at the grassroots level, as one of the contestants what could you say about the grassroots structures?
No! no! no!, DPP has structures on the ground and honestly one would not waste time with a party that has no structures on the grassroots. The problem with the party is appeasement policy. It's either the party is trying to appease some members who sacrificed to the party on some issues or it's afraid of defections in case some senior officials fail to contain the pressure or embarrassment of losing, or else the party is not really democratic.
You signed a document which the party restrained you from contesting as an independent member of parliament; does that mean this is the end of your career?
No! no! No! I am a political soldier and my political career can not end just like that. I am moving forward and I am not afraid. Come May 2009 no party will control the elections or make undemocratic decisions against the people's will – no one will have such power over the populace and the people's will shall take its course.
What could be your advice to the party that you wanted to serve as it is preparing for the general elections 2009.
I'm very much unlike Nicodemus who went to Jesus at night and I guess this is indeed the right time to advise the party in simple terms that the party has less than 40 days to make a decision over issues surrounding a running mate. This is very crucial as it may make or break the party.
That the party should not take the aftermath of its primaries literally for granted as it may most likely suffer the forgone value of the next best alternatives and that situation is not healthy for a party that has not tested the waters of a general election, and there are some opportunists clinging to some senior positions in the party. These are very cheap politicians who will definitely betray the party come 2009.I'm not trying to prophesy doom but all am trying to say is that the party should check on them immediately or else await disaster. These are facts of the case and can not be disputed.
source : http://www.malawinews.bppmw.com/article.asp?ArticleID=195
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