LILONGWE--A day after main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Vice President announced his resignation from the party, Secretary General Wakuda Kamanga has followed suit and defected to the ruling Peoples Party.

Kamanga announced his defection during a news conference he conducted at Vice President Khumbo Kachali's residence in Lilongwe on Friday.

In an interview, Kamanga claimed that time had come to be part of the process which is building this country.

Said Kamanga: "Time has come at least not for everybody but for me to be part of the process which is helping in building the country...moving around in the country, there is poverty which is a our common enemy."

When asked if he would've joined PP if Bingu Wa Mutharika was still alive, Kamanga simply said "everything has a reason". Pressed if perhaps he'd made deal with PP, Kamanga said his deal was with Malawians.

As a secretary general, Kamanga was the administrator and driver of the party, and has dumped the party at a time it is trying to rebuild following the death of its founder and Malawi’s president, Bingu wa Mutharika.

Two months ago Kamanga, speaking at a political rally in Thyolo district, pledged total support to incumbent leader of the party, Professor Peter Arthur Mutharika, and the entire faithful, describing politicians who dumped the party at the material time at fortune seekers.

Since Mutharika’s death, DPP has lost a good number of senior members who left and joined the ruling PP. These include Mohammed Sidik Mia, Rene Kachere, Sam Ganda, Frank Tumpale Mwenefumbo, Ephraim Mganda Chiume, Richie Biswick Muheya , Ken Zikhale Ng’oma and John Bande.

Those who have left the party went to parliament on a DPP ticket during the 2009 general elections and they've since “crossed the floor” to join PP.

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