Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)

Democratic Progressive Party
Abbreviation DPP
President Peter Mutharika
Secretary-General Jean Kalilani
Spokesperson Nicholas Dausi
Founder Bingu wa Mutharika
Founded February 2005
Split from United Democratic Front
Headquarters Lilongwe
Ideology Big tent[1]
Anti-Corruption[2]
Political position Centre
Colors Sky blue
Slogan Prosperity, Justice, Security
National Assembly
50 / 193
SADC PF
0 / 5
Pan-African Parliament
0 / 5
Election symbol
4 cobs of maize
Website
www.dppmalawi.com

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is a political party in Malawi. The party was formed in February 2005 by Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika after a dispute with the United Democratic Front (UDF), which was led by his predecessor, Bakili Muluzi.

History

The DPP party is an offshoot of the United Democratic Front. The UDF was formed by Bingu wa Mutharika and Bakili Muluzi and came to power in 1994 under Muluzi. After Muluzi's two terms were over, Mutharika succeeded him as head of the party and nation. However, Muluzi remained involved in running the party; therefore Mutharika formed his own party, the Democratic Progressive Party, in early 2005. Many UDF members defected to the new DPP party. The party and Mutharika won elections in 2009, and continued to rule the country.

Internal politics

In October 2008, the DPP's national governing council unanimously chose Mutharika as the party's candidate for the May 2009 presidential election.[3]

Rise of the PP

Bingu wa Mutharika increasingly became controlling in the party. He began to groom his brother, Peter Mutharika, to be his successor. This led to a situation where he began to sideline his vice-president Joyce Banda due to her refusal to accept the move. Mutharika then kicked her out of the party, an act that was purportedly unconstitutional because he did not go through a formal impeachment process. Therefore the courts held that she was still the vice-president of the country even though she was not the vice-president of the party. Subsequently Joyce Banda formed the People's Party. When Mutharika died in April 2012, Banda was still the Vice-President and thus succeeded Mutharika as President, leaving the DPP under Peter Mutharika in opposition.

1 August 2011 DPP politburo

On 1 August 2011, Bingu wa Mutharika shuffled the leadership of the DPP. Bintony Kutsaira, who was secretary general of the party, was moved to the Office of the President and Cabinet and replaced by Wakuda Kamanga. Former finance minister Goodall Gondwe was named first vice-president, replacing Joyce Banda who was dismissed from the party in December 2010 for "anti-party activities". Following the death of President Mutharika, who was also party leader, the National Governing Council of the Party chose Peter Mutharika as the new Party President on 6 April 2012.

The new DPP politburo after the shuffle:

Office 1st 2nd 3rd
President Peter Mutharika
Vice-President Goodall Edward Gondwe Yunus Mussa Jean Kalilani
Secretary General Jean Kalilani
Deputy Secretary General Isaac Nyakamera Etta Banda Ralph Jooma
Treasurer General Sidik Mia Bessie Chirambo Leckford Thotho
National Organising Secretary Francis Mphepo Catherine Hara John Zingale
National Campaign Director Ken Zikhale Ng'oma Rashy Gaffar Alice Lungu

Regional Governors:

DPP presidents

DPP members

References

  1. ↑ http://www.partylaw.leidenuniv.nl/uploads/wp3313a.pdf
  2. ↑ http://www.sdnp.org.mw/Elections_2014/manifesto/DPP-Manifesto-2014.pdf
  3. ↑ "Malawi's Mutharika nominated for re-election", AFP, 22 October 2008.

External links

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