MCP indaba on

• Msowoya, Kabwila  claim ignorance

Excitement and a feeling of relief and accomplishment was in the air yesterday as Malawi Congress Party (MCP) delegates arrived in Lilongwe for their elective conference scheduled to start today.

Some of the delegates started arriving as early as Thursday afternoon—hours after the Supreme Court of Appeal in Lilongwe lifted an injunction restraining the party from holding the convention.

Four members, who have since been reinstated, dragged MCP president Lazarus Chakwera and the entire national executive committee (NEC) to court for flouting the party’s constitution.

The members were Gustave Kaliwo, who was reinstated as the party’s secretary general on Thursday, Richard Msowoya who was restored as first vice-president, Tony Kandiero brought back as director of international affairs, James Chatonda Kaunda as first deputy secretary general and publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila, who had been fired.

Speaking yesterday at a press briefing to announce the convention, the event’s  chairperson Augustine Chidzanja said the injunctions restraining the indaba had all been successfully removed.

He said: “The steering committee met immediately after the staying of the interlocutory injunction. We had initially resolved to have our convention in Mzuzu at Mary Mount Secondary School and we had made payments for the function only to be encumbered by the injunctions. Since schools are now in session, we won’t be able to hold the convention at Mary Mount Secondary School.”

At least 1 000 delegates are expected to attend the convention, according to Chidzanja.

As we went to press, the exact venue for the convention was not yet known, but the delegates were said to be gathering at the party’s headquarters in Lilongwe.

The chairperson also announced nomination fees for all aspirants, which are K500 000 for the presidency and all his deputies, K250 000 for secretary general and the two deputies, treasurer general and his two deputies. The fees for each of the remaining positions is K50 000.

But a list of aspirants that we have seen has some names of NEC members conspicuously missing.

One such member, Kabwila yesterday described the indaba as illegal, calling it “a People’s Party (PP) convention”.

She said: “Just go check the list of members who are aspiring and you will see that there are so many PP members there. MCP has been sold; this is a Sidik Mia convention. Who has called for this convention?  I haven’t been communicated to and I am not attending?”

Another NEC member, Richard Msowoya, who is also Speaker of the National Assembly, said he was not aware of the meeting.

He said: “I am hearing from you that there is a convention. So, how do l comment on something that I am not aware of?”

The list shows that Chakwera will seek to be endorsed, unopposed, as president; Sidik Mia as vice-president, Harry Mkandawire, Gracious Soko and Loveness Gondwe as second vice-president.

Joseph Njobvuyalema will vie for the position of secretary general against Reverend Maurice Munthali (Retired), and lawyer Paul Maulidi.

Four people—Cornerious Mwalwanda, Evance Kamala, Nick Yiannakis and Rhino Chiphiko will battle it out for the post of treasurer general.

Other notable names are Ken Kandodo, who will seek to be elected as director of strategic planning. He will battle it out with Zikhale Ng’oma and Lawrence Kajawo.

Legislator Sosten Gwengwe, who was former president Joyce Banda’s running-mate will seek to be elected as the party’s director of economic affairs.

Gotani Hara, who served in Joyce Banda’s administration as a Cabinet minister, is contesting for the post of second deputy national campaign director for which she will battle it out with Maclean Ndafakale.

Vincent Mwale, a member of the party from Dedza explained in an interview that he travelled to Lilongwe with his fellow supporters on Friday morning after hearing of the dates for the convention.

He said: “Finally, we have to do this. I have all the hope that all will go well and that we will leave this place united and with one common purpose.’’