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Bingu defers party launch
by Bright Sonani, 16 February 2005 - 16:05:59
Members of a task force overseeing formation of President Bingu wa Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) disclosed on Tuesday that its launch, originally scheduled for this week, has been deferred to a date to be announced later.
Mutharika is going ahead to form his own political party despite calls against rushing into the move from the civil society, religious groups and other parties.
The President’s political allies have admitted that he has to operate from a party for his own political survival, an assertion that triggered rivalry between Mutharika and UDF chair Bakili Muluzi and ended into the President quitting his sponsoring party.
But a University of Malawi political analyst has warned that the architects of the new party should not build it around an individual but rather on issues, ideas and policies to avoid a repeat of what is currently happening in the UDF.
Paul Maulidi, one of the legal minds behind formation of DPP said the party would not be launched this week because they are working on the manifesto and constitution before they register and officially launch it.
“We are still working on some other things and we have not yet set a date for the launch. We will inform you when we are ready for the launch,” said Maulidi, former UDF deputy secretary general.
Civil society, religious groups and other parties have argued that if the President rushes into forming his own party he would lose the popularity which he has gained. They said the move would also raise suspicions as to the source of funding for the new party. Others have argued that the President in his bid to sell the party would find it difficult to differentiate party and government affairs.
Maulidi said those involved in the formation of DPP have considered all advice from different groups of people.
“However, advice is advice you cannot take all of it. At the end of the day you consider what is best for you. What people should bear in mind is that this is politics and you need to work as a group,” Maulidi said.
On separation between party and government affairs Maulidi said it all depends on the individual’s style of leadership. He said it was unfortunate that people are looking on how the UDF was combining party and government affairs.
Maulidi said most of those in the task force have learnt a lesson from what has happened in the UDF and would not repeat the same mistakes.
“People have never considered a situation whereby MCP could have won the elections. It meant Honourable [John] Tembo could have been the president of his party as well as of the country and there would not have been a problem with that. In many countries that is the trend but it is all a question of how you are going to run the show,” he said.
On funding Maulidi said: “That is why we are saying we are still working on several things, including funding. We know that some of those people interested to join us will also come forward with donations. However, I do not believe that all the parties in the country have adequate funding, but still we have something to start with and we have well-wishers who would assist us.”
Another member of the task force Samson Msosa said Mutharika would not have problems working with the other parties because it was not him personally forming the party.
“Bingu will work as government while we will run the party. What we feel as politicians is that the President should have a political base because if we say he should not have a political party that is as good as finishing off his political career. As a politician he needs to build himself up politically,” said Msosa.
He said meanwhile the task force is also working on identifying colours and design of their party cloth.
Some people have recently been seen spotting a blue cloth with Mutharika’s portrait. Msosa said that was just people’s initiative but said blue was one of those colours being considered.
University of Malawi political science lecturer Boniface Dulani said on Tuesday although the President has the right to form his own party this must not be a priority to him.
“The question is: does it make sense if it starts from the top? We are talking of participation at grassroots but if it is a top-bottom approach with leadership and name already predetermined, who is going to own the party?
“UDF and Aford are facing problems because of the issue of ownership. The new party has to learn and build itself around issues, ideas and policies not around individuals,” said Dulani.
He also said the current scenario, where Mutharika stands above party line, gives the nation an opportunity to see separation between party and government affairs.
Dulani noted that there is danger that Mutharika would lose support, especially in Parliament where MPs would be looking at him as a party figure.
“It does help to garner support through a party but Mutharika could as well say “judge me on my performance and not through a political party”. The President has had a base so far and this is not on the basis of the UDF but on his performance, if he stands today as a presidential candidate without a party he could still win,” said Dulani.
Mutharika also dumped the UDF during the run-up to the 1999 general elections to form his own United Party (UP) and contested in the elections which saw Muluzi winning the presidency. Mutharika later dissolved and took up appointment as deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi.

 
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