It does not rain but pours for the Malawi’ s ruling Peoples Party (PP) as renowned Muslim figures have quitted the party as the country is getting closer to tripartite elections in May this year.
The two, Omar Paison Kaisi, Director of International relations and protocol and Former Education Minister, Yusuf Mwawa, who was the party’s Deputy Director of Strategic planning, have dumped the party due to what they claim is unwillingness of the other party’s section to see Muslims holding key positions both in Government and the party.
This comes barely weeks after Doctor Cassim Chilumpha and Muhammad Sidik Mia both Muslims resigned from their positions of second vice presidents for the central and Southern regions respectively.
Apparently Kaisi and Mwawa both claim that the party have robbed them the victory to contest in the forth coming elections as parliamentarians following the primary elections held on January 4, 2014.
Kaisi is said to have triumphed in the primary elections in Mangochi East constituency after outwitting Ibrahim Daud Nyenje,a fellow Muslim with 2274 votes against 1830 votes which were reported to the returning officer Godfrey Kamanya who is the deputy minister of Education.
Kaisi refused a rerun because according to him, the results which were reported to returning officer showed that he was a winner.
Kaisi also claimed that the party favored Daudi as he is a close relation to Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda, therefore a rerun would just be a waste of resources as the party had a sinister agenda of who it wanted from the four competing to represent it as a parliamentarian for the area.
Kaisi worked underground for PP when it was not known to many, he also won the position of Director of International relations and protocol at the PP convention last year
Meanwhile Mwawa claimed that he clearly won with 4800 votes against 3000 votes which went to his opponent James Saizi . These are the results which were forwarded to the returning officer of the election, Mr Liwemba .
Some analysts including the PP deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda have cautioned PP that it should go back to the drawing table and reflect as to what is making people leave the party like that when the country is heading towards tripartite elections.
Southern and Eastern regions are said to be stronghold regions for UDF and majority of Muslims dwelling in these regions.
