PPM youth director defects to People’s Party

The newly-registered People's Party (PP) of state vice president Joyce Banda has  welcomed into its ranks Gerald Kampanikiza, former People's Progressive Movement (PPM) national youth director at a ceremony held at PP's national headquarters, Nancholi in Blantyre.

PPM is led by Blantyre-based business tycoon, Mark Katsonga.

In his welcoming remarks, PP secretary general Henry Chibwana said a nation grows because it has the youths. He said the party's leadership would like to incorporate as many youths as possible with a view to perpetuating its very existence.

He described Kampanikiza as an asset to the party as he was "most versatile, educated and talented"; saying his joining the PP was not an "accident".

Chibwana,M'balaka and Clara Makungwa welcoming Kampanikiza

The former Principal of the Polytechnic noted that most of the political leaders in the country are over 50 years of age and that it was high time that "handed over the baton to the youths and women".

Speaking at the same function, PP deputy administrative secretary, Joseph Chikwemba said the PP intends to integrate as many young politicians as possible as one way of dealing with the "recycled politicians" syndrome.

PP national youth director Lawrence Mpofu said the political scene now belongs to the new generation. He said it was therefore imperative that the youths take active part in party politics with a view to shaping their own future.

Other dignitaries at the function included PP administrative secretary Reverend Peter Kaleso, provincial chairman for the south Ali M'balaka, national women director Clara Makungwa, her deputy Ettinor Koloviko, director of women (south) Ireen Liyabunya, director of youth (south) Lemani Chapitapansi, among others.

After the function, Chapitapansi told Nyasa Times in an interview he was "over the moon to welcome Kampanikiza" who he said he had interacted with before at Young Politicians Union (YPU) forums.

"While the other parties are recruiting the old and retired guards, the PP is recruiting energetic young politicians to work with the first Malawi's woman vice president," he enthused.

Kampanikiza told journalists that he had he brings to the party experience and "much value" to work with the state vice president and the entire party and help them win the 2014 general elections.

The former PPM national youth director said he had previously served as deputy secretary general at Malawi Democratic Party; interim president for Young Politicians Union and that during the 2009 general elections he contested in Dedza south constituency against the opposition leader, John Tembo.

Nyasa Times 17 Sep, 2011

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Source: http://www.nyasatimes.com/blog/2011/09/16/ppm-youth-director-defects-to-people%e2%80%99s-party/
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