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Member of Parliament for Ntcheu Bwanje North Austin Mtukula Tuesday denied belonging to the Fast Track, saying he does not subscribe to a group of confusionists
Mtukula, while accepting he was approached by Dumbo Lemani, the self proclaimed leader of the group, to become one of them, said he just supported the idea of having the UDF’s grassroots choosing their leaders other than having imposed candidates.
“I was approached by Lemani to become a member of the Fast Track but I turned down the offer. I do not subscribe to their ideologies of fighting
against President [Bingu wa] Mutharika, because it is not a secret that the Bingu they are fighting is rated as doing fine,” he said.
“This is the second time my name is being mentioned. I totally refute that, I am not a member and I repeat I am not one of them,” he added.
Mtukula said even during the just ended budget session where some Fast Track members wanted to sabotage the budget, he was not part of them and did not even attend a single of the caucus meetings they held.
He said many UDF committee members from the district, to the national executive level were not elected by the people, a move he said is dangerous, hence supported the idea of having such officials elected by the people and not fighting Bingu as the Fast Track major aim has turned out to be.
“I personally support Bingu’s separation of government and party functions. His rating is best,” he said.
Mutharika on Saturday during a press briefing at State Lodge in Lilongwe upon arrival from the UN summit called for the death of the Fast Track, saying members of the group are dividing the party.
But UDF publicity secretary Humphrey Mvula said the group only exists in the media.
Mutharika was particularly angry with some UDF MPs who are said to have plotted to sabotage the budget. His vice Cassim Chilumpha, at a rally addressed by party chair Bakili Muluzi on Sunday, denied there was ever a plot to block the budget.
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