By Temwanani Gondwe
Gertrude, the wife of opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Peter Mutharika, has taken full control of the party’s nerve centre in Mangochi.
Mutharika’s lakeshore Page House, originally intended to be a family home, has been turned into the party’s nerve centre by Gertrude, against Peter’s initial preference for his Nyambadwe home in Blantyre for easier access to DPP senior officials.
Sources indicate that Gertrude, often residing in Mangochi, influenced this change to ensure party meetings were held closer to her.
“Gertrude is in full control of who attends the party’s national executive committee (NEC) meetings and wants them conducted closer to her location,” disclosed an inside source.
She collaborates closely with Norman Paulosi Chisale, the party’s national youth director, and Peter Mukhito, the secretary general, and has blacklisted senior officials she dislikes.
Among those blacklisted are Mary Navicha, the national director of women and Thyolo Thava legislator; Joseph Mwanamvekha, the party’s vice-president for the South and Bright Msaka, vice-president for the Eastern Region.
“Gertrude ensures the alienation of anyone she dislikes. Navicha’s offence was defying her request not to contest for the position of National Director of Women during last year’s convention in August. Despite Gertrude’s preference for her friend Rosa Mbilizi, Navicha proceeded and won, upsetting Gertrude,” revealed the source.
When the party appointed Navicha as Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Gertrude maneuvered through her husband to have her replaced by George Chaponda.
“Gertrude, along with Francis Mphepo, who has unrestricted access to Page House, orchestrated Navicha’s removal,” the source added.
Navicha’s close friend shared that despite being a NEC member, Navicha is banned from meetings due to Gertrude’s influence.
In Mangochi District, Gertrude is challenging Mangochi Central legislator Victoria Kingstone, pushing for her friend Mbilizi to stand on the party’s ticket. Initially supporting Kingstone, Mbilizi now wants the seat, leading to a confrontation.
“Kingstone refuses to yield to Mbilizi’s demands and has defied Gertrude, daring them to meet on the ground,” said the source.
A NEC member corroborated the extent of Gertrude’s control over the DPP’s nerve centre, highlighting the helplessness of Peter and the NEC members.
“She has alienated Msaka and Mwanamvekha, as she did with Kondwani Nankhumwa earlier, simply because they showed interest in challenging her husband. Her inner circle includes Chisale and Mukhito. The campaign rallies are organised by this trio, excluding the national director of elections Chifundo Makande,” said the senior member.
The source disclosed that Gertrude facilitated the removal of the duly elected national director of elections Gladys Ganda, the Nsanje Lalanje legislator, to pave the way for Makande, owing to family ties. After Ganda’s removal, Makande was appointed to the position.
The senior party official lamented that Gertrude has single-handedly weakened the party by criticising senior members for only supporting her husband when he was in power and failing to sponsor his campaign, despite still holding lucrative positions as legislators and businesses.
“Transport refunds for meetings are managed through Gertrude. Despite her husband’s financial support, she does not refund anyone, insisting on sacrifices and questioning why people expect refunds when her husband provided them with jobs when he was in power,” stated the official.
The opposition DPP has been reduced to a family affair, with literally anyone dancing to Gertrude’s orders.
APM’s puppet Shadreck Namalomba, the party’s publicity secretary, declined to comment on the issues, arguing what happens at Page House is for the good of the party and they cannot go public divulging political secrets on how to win general elections this September.
Governance expert Dennis Mchokero said in an interview it was unfortunate Peter was not in control and the party was in the hands of mafias, including standard eight dropouts answering to multiple criminal charges.