Court frees MCP to hold convention
The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal has put aside an injunction embattled Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general Gustave Kaliwo and others obtained, effectively freeing the party to hold a convention to elect office-bearers.
MCP president Lazarus Chakwera and the party’s national executive committee (NEC) members obtained the order in Lilongwe yesterday.
Reads the order dated May 10 2018: “It is hereby ordered that the interlocutory injunction granted herein by honourable Justice [Mike] Tembo in the court below the appellants, dated 8th May 2018 be and is hereby stayed pending the hearing of interpartes application for the stay hereby set down for hearing on 17th May 2018 at 14:00 hours before Hon. Justice [Frank] Kapanda SC, sitting at Lilongwe.”
MCP deputy secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka said the development means that the party was free to hold a convention before May 17.
In the circumstances, a lawyer said the May 17 hearing would be an academic exercise.
The injunction Kaliwo and company obtained from the High Court in Blantyre restricted MCP from holding a national convention until matters relating to his suspension and that of four others—first deputy president Richard Msowoya, director of international relations Tony Kandiero and first deputy secretary general James Chatonda Kaunda as well as the firing of publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila were resolved.
On Wednesday afternoon, MCP NEC resolved to reinstate the fired members. However, the Kaliwo faction was adamant, saying there was need to resolve issues surrounding their friction with the party leadership, notably handpicking of NEC members.
Meanwhile, the MCP convention organising team was meeting last evening to strategise on a convention which has failed to materialise following the court injunctions.
Insiders told The Nation that the convention could be held this Saturday in Lilongwe. n
