Councillor for Blantyre City Soche East Ward Leonard Chimbanga has claimed that Member of Parliament for Mwanza Central Constituency Nicholas Dausi recused himself from the post of spokesperson of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

Chimbanga’s remarks follows report that Dausi was fired from post for siding with DPP Vice President for the South Kondwani Nankhumwa.

“I was listening to #TimesTalk where Hon Nicholas Dausi, MP was invited to speak on the program. He was not able to respond to many issues that were raised by the host including callers. Interestingly enough he seemed to go against the Party’s position in many aspects. But I can understand why he was not as eloquent as he used to be in the 90’s and early 2000’s. He was indeed elected at the 2018 Party National Conference as a Publicity Secretary but after the Party’s loss in 2020 in the Presidential Fresh Elections Hon Dausi recused himself from speaking for the party as he was not comfortable speaking against MCP, rumor has it it was because of his long history with the MCP which was the key partner in the Tonse alliance.

“As a Party, the leadership respected his decision and appointed Hon Brown Mpinganjira to be speaking for the Party and President of the DPP His Excellency Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika. DPP being the democratic party it is and we practice an open door policy Hon BJ also decided to step down after a year of service and the Party appointed Hon Shadrec Namalomba, MP to be speaking for the Party. He is now the only authorized spokesperson of the Party and when he is not available the party does arrange for a person who can step in from time to time to respond to issues that concern the party,” said Chimbanga.

“It is therefore laughable that Hon Dausi thought his 2-year absence would cripple the party’s communication and publicity activities. No. If he wanted to resume his duties he could have gone to those he told that he is stepping down from his position rather than calling radio stations to be invited for talk shows.

“He is however free to speak on his own behalf or for a camp he belongs to but not on behalf of the Party. As he rightly put it there is a convention coming soon, if he is still interested he can always stand again and compete with those aspiring for that same position. After noticing that MCP is now weak and headed for extinction he then decided to just show up at one radio station to claim a position he abandoned 2 years ago. No Hon Dausi. Ife tamphunzira ntchito kwa inu . Tsatani ndondomeko yabwino.”

Chimbanga has since urged Dausi to respect the current DPP spokesperson.