Nkhata-Bay, March 3: President of the Malawi Democratic Party (MDP), Kamlepo Kalua, has finally joined the ruling People’s Party (PP) after leaving the party he founded and led for almost 22 years.
Kalua, one of the influential opposition leaders on land and probably one of the most stable politicians, came into the limelight during the early 1990s when pressure was mounting to force Kamuzu Banda to accept multiparty democracy in the country.
PP Deputy Secretary General, Frank Mwenefumbo told the president that he had brought a gift to the President by introducing and welcoming the politicians who had defected from other parties to join PP.
“State President Dr. Joyce Banda, I have some members who have joined the party from other political parties, Kamlepo Kalua has joined us,” Mwenefumbo announced before a multitude of people that gathered at Chintheche airfield during a developmental rally on Saturday.
He also announced that prominent lawyer aka politician Ralph Mhone had also joined the bandwagon of PP from United Democratic Front (UDF), Northern Region Chairperson of MAFUNDE, Davie Botha and the entire regional committee, Teya Mwaluwasa, National Coordinator of Friends of Atupele, also joined the ruling party PP.
On his remarks State President Dr. Joyce Banda thanked the new members, urging them to work together with the other party members.
“Kamlepo is energetic and a hard working politician who fought for multi party in the country,” she said.
Kamlepo Kalua said that by virtual of joining PP, opposition parties in the country are dissolved.
“In 2014, opposition Members of Parliament would not be found. Nsanje, Chikhwawa, Mangochi and the whole of northern region there would be no any MP from the opposition side, PP would win in all the districts,” Kalua said.
He then disclosed that he had decided to join PP because of the good leadership style of the State President Dr. Joyce Banda.
“The way you handled the January 17, 2013 demonstrations and increased salaries of Civil Servants is incredible and should be commended,” Kalua explained.
He further said that in 1995 and 1996 civil servants organized a strikes, forcing government to increase their salaries but it did not work.
