By Linda Kwanjana
Jappie Mhango endured a lukewarm welcome as the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) vice for northern region at Chatonda Lodge in Mzuzu on Saturday as several high ranking party officials from the region shunned the function.
In a move which is seen as an apparent misgivings to Mhango’s ascendency to the vice presidency, a majority of senior party officials chose to stay away from the function.
Coming from a background where the party has been embroidered in infighting mainly arising from Mutharika’s candidature, the staying away has been widely viewed as a popular disapproval of Mhango’s appointment.
It was supposed to be a glamorous welcoming function but it was never to be. The occasion was mostly underwhelming.
Some of notable faces that stayed away from the meeting include Ephraim Mganda Chiume, Ackim Mwanza, Charles Mhango, Vuwa Kaunda, Joyce Chikukula, Nick Masebo and others.
The unavailability of these people is also being interpreted by some quarters as a vote of no confidence for Peter Mutharika’s quest to be the party’s torch bearer in 2025 Presidential elections.
Mhango, who until recently was the DPP Treasure General is one of Mutharika’s blue-eyed boys and the “aimanso” campaigners and his appointment was seen as a last ditch attempt to secure Mutharika’s northern region votes.
Mutharika appointed Mhango the northern region’s vice president following the death of Goodall Gondwe who until his death in September was the vice president for the region.
