Chakwera pleads with rebels
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera yesterday told his party ’s ‘dissidents’ to accept that the party is undergoing transition which must be celebrated at all levels by every bonafide members, instead of fighting the leadership.
Chakwera, who is leader of opposition in Parliament, was speaking at a rally he addressed in Balaka, alongside MCP new catch and former Cabinet minister Sidik Mia.
The MCP leader said he had been informed that some members were fighting his leadership after being promised to get back positions which they lost.
Chakwera said he would ensure that that all those who lost their positions continue serving the MCP and asked them to stop cheating themselves that if they change the presidency they would automatically be given back their positions.
“I am reasoning with them to say ‘there are many ways to serve within the party, you don’t have to always have a particular position in the party’. Let nobody cheat you, because people are saying if they change the president and you chose them, they will make sure that they give you back the positions,” Chakwera told reporters after the rally.
Last year, a faction comprising some former regional and district chairpersons, and other party members, emerged in the party, fighting for an early convention.
And just a few months ago, the party’s embattled secretary general Gustav Kaliwo and his deputy Chatonda Kaunda joined the faction and announced dates for a national convention, which was later stopped by a court injunction obtained by the party.
But Chakwera said he had nothing to do with the changing or their losing of positions and for those that were re-elected “I did not get involved”.
“What I want is democracy to flourish. I also want people, and particularly members of the party to understand that the party is in a process of transition. I don’t think there is anyone who wants to say we should not follow democratic principles,” he said.
Conspicuously missing at the rally was the party’s vicepresident Richard Msowoya despite announcements of the rally saying he would attend.
The party’s second deputy secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka said Msowoya had failed to make it at the eleventh hour due to official engagements.
Mia was formally inducted into MCP last month in Ngabu, Chikwawa, after months of speculations over his next political direction. During the rally, Mia said he was not joining MCP for any position, but to help him win the 2019 general elections.
