By Chisomo Kambandanga

NKhata Bay, April 8, Mana: Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Nkhata Bay Central Constituency, Raphael Mhone has joined the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), dumping the Peoples Party (PP).

MCP Director of Strategy and Minister of Homeland Security, Ken Zikhale Ng'oma officially welcomed Mhone together with several members from PP at district and constituency level during a political rally in the district on Sunday.  

At the rally, Ng'oma said development policies that MCP was implementing on the ground was what was attracting people to leave their parties and join it.  

"In my view, people are joining MCP everyday because of development strategies that we are implementing. You know President Dr Lazurus Chakwera is dwelling on development, he is making sure that Malawi  develops in all districts.

“The K200 million which every MP is accessing as Constituency Development Fund is spearheading development across the country. Those policies are making Chakwera popular and wherever you go, everyone wants to be part of the president’s development plan," he said.

Ng’oma said MCP’s victory in recent Karonga by-elections was a testament that people are appreciating development projects MCP led Tonse Alliance government was implementing in the country. 

"Remember people were saying bad things about MCP on social media, however, we won all seats in the recent by-elections conducted in Karonga.

“You cannot use social media to influence a person who has no gadgets for accessing social media platforms. MCP is on the grassroots not on the social media," he said.

The Director said as strategist for MCP, he would make sure that Nkhata Bay should have more than three MCP MPs in the next general elections.

MCP Northern Region Chairperson, Julius Chavula said the party adheres to open door policy and will follow “meaningful and practical democracy” in its primaries for the constituency where Mhone was likely to battle it out with Ian Lyton Kaunda.

In his remarks, Mhone said he has joined MCP following advice from his supporters across the constituency.