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Meet Brown Mpinganjira after humiliating loss at PP convention

2 September 2012 Malawi Today/Times

Veteran Malawian politician and a founding member of the ruling People's Party (PP), Brown Mpinganjira, who lost his bid for the post of vice president at a PP convention this week has said that he is still finding his political bearing after the sudden turn of events. Mpinganjira spoke in an interview at his base in Blantyre on Wednesday.

"I am on vacation. I am taking it easy to allow my colleagues the necessary time for them to find their footing. Once they are ready, the rest of us will follow suit," he said.

He said that although it is natural for any loser to feel bad, PP officials should work towards unity if they are to win in 2014 elections.

"Usually, immediately after convention, there is always a bit of bad feeling and bad taste in the mouth because of campaign. But time heals. Anybody who loves our nation must accept that parties are just vehicles for national development," he said.

He said that he is not quitting politics yet, after serving as a cabinet minister for six years in the first multi party administration, saying Malawi is currently facing different challenges.

Mpinganjira has no formal position now in the PP hierarchy and becomes an ordinary member from such a lofty position as treasurer General of the party.

Mpinganjira was once a strong henchman for UDF's Bakili Muluzi and served six year under him but they had a foul fall out.

He went on to found the now defunct National Democratic Alliance (NDA) which gave UDF a run for its money in the Thyolo-Mulanje belt, but Mpinganjira stunned his own party to cosy up to Muluzi and de-register the NDA.

This new relationship was always shaky and Mpinganjira's decision in 2009 to become the presidential running mate for John Tembo did not go well with the UDF rank and file as Bakili Muluzi was then trying to make a comeback.

In 2009, in a shock election result, Mpinganjira lost his parliament seat to the then ruling DPP and also together with John Tembo they failed to win the presidential race.