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| National |
| DPP claims Mussa wooing its governors |
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by
Steven Pembamoyo Banda, 01 February 2007
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11:53:42
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The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Southern Region Committee on Wednesday accused former Agriculture Minister Uladi Mussa of offering money to the party’s district governors to join his newly-formed Malavi People’s Party (MPP).
But Mussa rubbished the claim, saying he only gives money for people’s social needs.
DPP Southern Region acting governor Isaac Nyakamera claimed at a press briefing in the commercial capital Blantyre Wednesday that several district governors were approached by Mussa offering them money to follow him. Some district governors, who were present at the briefing, claimed the former DPP vice-president approached them.
“I was called by Mussa who inquired what Dr. Ntaba was doing in Mulanje and later introduced his party to me. He then asked for my account number and told me he was determined to end my problems if I joined his party,” alleged Size Muunikeni, Mulanje urban district governor.
Joseph Liwotcha, Blantyre rural district governor, also alleged he was approached by Mussa.
Nyakamera also claimed that the DPP knows of a network behind the formation of new parties by Mussa and former Attorney-General Ralph Kasambara.
“DPP through its well connected and established intelligence network has also uncovered that Muluzi has vowed to form and finance three new political parties in order to merge with them into an alliance come 2009 general elections,” reads a press release issued at the briefing.
Nyakamera said two of the parties under Muluzi’s sponsorship are Mussa’s MPP and Kasambara’s Congress for Democracy (Code).
“We know that Mussa is being used since the architect of all this is Muluzi who at the moment is in UK trying to convince his donors to fund him as he is planning to stand in the forthcoming presidential elections in 2009 on UDF ticket,” further reads the press release.
But Mussa denied the allegations. He said the DPP should stop tormenting Muluzi and concentrate on building itself.
“These people should learn to respect the former president and stop tormenting him. I was told by people to form a party not Muluzi and our party has its own donors both within and outside the country not Muluzi. If they have evidence of what they are saying, let them produce it,” he said.
He also denied that he coerces the governors with money.
“The money I give is to help them on funerals, school fees or hospital bills when I am asked not what they are saying,” said Mussa.
UDF spokesperson Sam Mpasu also dismissed the claims that Muluzi is behind MPP’s formation and advised the DPP to concentrate on solving its internal problems.
“It is not strange that the DPP is putting the blame on UDF for its problems. Every one knows that Muluzi went to UK for medical purposes and that is why government funded him. Let me advise them to concentrate on solving their problems without involving others,” said Mpasu. |
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