By Twink Jones Gadama
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has come out swinging against biased opinions and misinformation spread by individuals like Undule Mwakasungula and Watipatso Mzungu following their convention.
The party’s spokesperson and National publicity secretary, Shadrick Namalomba MP, signed the statement which aimed to set the record straight and clarify any misconceptions surrounding the DPP’s recent activities.
The DPP convention, which took place on 17-19 August 2024, was a significant event in the political landscape of Malawi.
However, an article published by Nyasa Times titled “DPP Convention Missed Opportunity” hosted Undule Mwakasungula, who claimed that the convention had left many Malawians disappointed and concerned.
Mwakasungula went further to allege that it was a missed opportunity and raised more questions than answers regarding the party’s ability to lead the nation once again.
He even went as far as making personal attacks against former President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika to justify his political affiliation.
The DPP wasted no time in addressing the misinformation spread by Mwakasungula and others like him.
Namalomba emphasized that the DPP convention had exceeded expectations, surpassing both past conventions of the party and those of their competitors.
The party made significant strides in increasing youth and women representation within the Central Executive Committee (CEC).
Out of the nine positions on the CEC, four are held by youthful leaders and one by a woman, making up 44% of the committee. This demonstrates the DPP’s commitment to promoting gender and youth inclusivity within the party.
Moreover, out of the 24 positions up for grabs at the convention, over 50% were secured by youths and women.
Notable figures such as Hon. Chifundo Makande, Jayne Mandeule, Fyness Mangonjwa, Linda Khembo Chihana, and Chipiriro Mpinganjira emerged as leaders within the party.
It is clear that the DPP recognizes the importance of giving young people and women a platform to actively participate in shaping the future of the nation.
When addressing the current state of the economy, Namalomba highlighted the economic mismanagement and maladministration by the current government as a major cause for concern.
However, he pointed out that the DPP had left a well-functioning economy, which had since been severely dismantled by the Chakwera administration.
In just four years, inflation rates and interest rates had soared to over 30%, while forex reserves dwindled to less than 10 days of import cover.
The public debt had also risen to a staggering MK18 trillion, compared to the DPP’s prudent borrowing of only MK2.6 trillion in six years.
Namalomba emphasized that the DPP’s governance and policies were instrumental in leaving a stable economy with single-digit inflation, a stable currency, and forex reserves of 6 months.
He called on Mwakasungula and Mzungu to acknowledge these facts and refrain from misleading the public with biased opinions.
Namalomba urged journalists to practice professional journalism by verifying information and presenting balanced viewpoints, and advised them to reach out to concerned parties for clarification before publishing any article.
The DPP’s press release serves as a strong rebuttal to the biased opinions and misinformation spread by individuals like Mwakasungula and Mzungu.
The party remains committed to promoting inclusivity and transparency within its ranks, and will continue to uphold the values of good governance and accountability.
Malawians can rest assured that the DPP is dedicated to providing accurate information and promoting fair and unbiased reporting in the future.
