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| National |
| Aford member defies demands to quit government |
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by
Peter Makossah, 19 July 2004
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13:02:38
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An Aford executive member has defied its supporters’ demands that the party and its leader Chakufwa Chihana should leave government to concentrate on a rebuilding exercise, saying the demands are without substance.
The party’s deputy secretary general Frank Mwenifumbo, who is serving the UDF government as Deputy Minister of Health, said such demands can only be made at a general assembly.
“Aford got into government only to consolidate democracy and serve the interests of the people of Malawi and not for personal gains. The mistake we made was not joining the government but the behaviour some of the people in the party
“You see many of those that got into government forgot their people and that is why many were voted out. People did not reject the party during the election but the candidates. Aford is a strong party and I want to insist that it is not a regional party but a national party,” said Mwenifumbo.
The deputy minister added that those supporters who met and resolved that the party should pull out of government did so haphazardly because any meeting concerning the party can only be called by the national executive.
“As a party we are disputing such demands. There was no protest against the party as far as we are concerned but against individuals. Why did people vote for us? Why did people vote for Loveness Gondwe if there was protest against the party?” queried Mwenifumbo.
He said Aford would maintain its ideals and values of promoting democracy in the country, adding that this was evident in the fact that although Aford did not get many positions in government, the party was not bothered because serving the people does not mean being in a top government position.
“Honourable Chihana’s acceptance to the post of a Minister of Agriculture from the vice president is a clear indication that he is not there for position but to serve the country. So it would be unethical and immoral for the party to pull out of the government now. That can only be done after the people endorse it at a national conference,” Mwenifumbo said.
A task force of supporters met in Mzuzu two weeks ago and resolved to meet Aford president Chakufwa Chihana to tell him on the people’s demands.
The party’s deputy publicity secretary Khwauli Msiska confirmed then that the party’s supporters are demanding that Aford leave government and that as a listening party, it is consulting on the matter.
Msiska was deputy minister of Economic Planning and Development in the last administration but was not considered after the May elections in which he failed to retain his Karonga Nyungwe seat.
When contacted on the matter one Aford senior member who also failed to retain his seat, Dindi Gowa Nyasulu, fumed: “ Why do you poke your nose into Aford? Aford has many inside problems and a newspaper cannot solve them. What do you want from Aford? Why can’t you write about PPM? What about RP or MCP? Don’t call me again,” he said before banging the phone.
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