Chakwera targets North, South

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera has dismissed suggestions that the country’s oldest political establishment is fading into a regional force, saying the party is now poised to reclaim support in the Northern and Southern regions.

Chakwera, speaking at a rally at Kamwendo in Mchinji on Sunday, further dismissed fears that the party’s leadership was too dominated by politicians from the Central Region

He cited presence of several leaders on its national executive committee (NEC), including party vice-president Richard Msowoya and general secretary Gustav Kaliwo, who come from the North and South respectively, as indication that the party had spread its wings nationwide.

Earlier during the address, the MCP president, who had welcomed back the party’s former influential members, including 2014 elections People’s Party presidential running mate Sosten Gwengwe and deputy general secretary George Zulu, said the party will welcome all members with open arms to rebuild.

At the rally, Msowoya, who is also Speaker of the National Assembly, called for immediate change in the country’s electoral and anti-corruption laws.