AEP/Richard Chirombo
The period after the May 19 parliamentary and presidential elections has been a tedious one for many, as the winning Democrtic Progressive Party (DPP) has been busy addressing 'Thank you' tours throughout the country.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) has been regretting its decision to go into political partnership with the Malawi Congress Party of JohnTembo, to the extent that UDF spokesperson Rob Jamieson has publicily attributed the loss to differences in ideology with its alliance partner.
The UDF is liberal while the MCP is conservative, said Jamieson. So, the two parties could not work together.
The MCP? Busy, busy, busy- internal party bickering. There were fireworks after the elections, as fired party publicist Ishmael Chafukira saw disaster in the elections' results and openly called for party president, Tembo's resignation. A hot battle ensued, one that has seen Chafukira being booted out of the party.
Tembo has since called Chafukira a "mere observer" of MCP affairs as he was no longer party to it while Chafukira has retorted: I did not apply to be a member of the MCP; so, Tembo, or the party, can not fire me.
A pressure group has since been established, to clear the bushes for Tembo's last political trip back home- in Dedza South where he is MP.
He still stands on his feet, though, above high mountains, saying he did not lose the presidential polls. Hence he has gone to court.
The political pot has been real hot, but only on part of political parties.
Independents? No. The only noise they have made is that of denouncing their independence status to join either DPP or MCP. Only four have joined the opposition while the rest have opted for the ruling accolade.
Even former Vice President, Cassim Chilumpha, has joined the fray. He contested in Nkhotakota as an independent, now he says he will join DPP. DPP has, however, rebuffed him, saying he should write a letter expressing his interest.
Chilumpha questions: As if applying for the post of Chief Executive Officer? He is battled.
Other than that, the independents have been quiet. In the last parliament, at a time similar to this one, the ten independent crop of MPs was making noise. Even challenging for parliamentary positions.
Speaker. Deputy Speaker, Second Deputy Speaker. And more. They got some, like that of second deputy speaker for Chingola.
Others argue that it was because he (Chingola) had shown political colours of yellow- the colour for UDF. But the independents fought, that is it.
Today, some three weeks after the polls, no independent is challenging for positions. The likes of Jolly Kalero, Felix Njawala have kept quiet.
Political commentator Rafiq Hajat feels that the independents should make political parties toil for their parliamentary positions. That will make the independents' voice audible.
"They should, at least, fight for something. They, too, represent people (constituents)," he said.
That is unlikely to happen. It should have happened a long time ago, if anything.
But Njawala, one of the independents, says people will be surprised because they have been working on the sidelines.
The only problem, he says, is that the independents lack one voice.
Others are for government. Others for the opposition.
Nobody is really independent.
It remains to be seen, however, what June 22 may bring.
From all corners of Malawi, MPs converge at parliament building for national business. So far, no independent MP has challenged for anything, except, perhaps, development.
Any room for independents?
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