Kalpana Kalpana (Editor)

Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)

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Abbreviation
  
DPP

Secretary-General
  
Jean Kalilani

Founder
  
Bingu wa Mutharika

President
  
Peter Mutharika

Spokesperson
  
Nicholas Dausi

Founded
  
February 2005

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.

Contents

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.

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:

Regional Governors:

  • North: Ancient Nkhata
  • Centre: Kalanzi Mbewe
  • East: Yusuf Yusweja
  • South: Noel Masangwi
  • DPP presidents

  • Peter Mutharika 2012–present
  • Bingu wa Mutharika 2007–2012
  • DPP members

  • Etta Banda
  • Goodall Gondwe
  • Catherine Hara
  • Patricia Kaliati
  • Yunus Mussa
  • Kenneth Lipenga
  • Peter Mukhito
  • Bingu wa Mutharika
  • Saulos Chilima
  • References

    Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi) Wikipedia