MZUZU--Barely a few hours after announcing resignation from front-line politics, Mzimba North constituents have received the news with mixed reactions with some hailing Goodall Gondwe's move as "wise" while others have speculated that the former finance minister is trying to join the bandwagon of “political prostitutes” who change “political parties anyhow.”

Gondwe announced that he'd resigned from the former ruling DPP on Thursday and said he would finish his tenure as MP for Mzimba North as an independent before retiring in 2014.

The resignation of Gondwe comes a day after DPP lost in Mzimba Central and Mzimba South West by-elections.

Speaking in an interview with MaraPost, a few hours after Gondwe made the announcement, 32-year-old Yohane Moyo, of Bwengu village in Mzimba district which is part of Gondwe’s constituency, said when the lawmaker held ministerial portfolios in the DPP-led government, he did a lot for the constituency, including construction of roads and schools. He also brought electricity to his area.  

He said Gondwe has always been committed to serving the people of his constituency but doubted if this is going to be the same with his declaration as an independent MP.

“He [Goodall Gondwe] has been very helpful if we compare him to his predecessors," said Moyo.

However, another constituent in the area who refused to be named speculated the loss of DPP in Tuesday's by-election as having played a role in Gondwe's resignation from DPP. 

“No one wants to be part of a losing team. He knows that there's no future for him in DPP. That is how politicians behave,” observed the constituent.
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(c) The Maravi Post 2012. Reproduction without acknowledgement prohibited.

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