Cheers, jeers at MCP convention

Unlike the previous day, the mood at the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) convention yesterday, ahead of the partial announcement of election results, was tense.

As the counting of votes progressed in the morning, there was palpable restlessness, especially among the notable figures.

Around 9am, when voting ended, big names such as former secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka, ministers of Finance and Economic Affairs, Homeland Security and Local Government Simplex Chithyola-Banda, Ken Zikhale-Ng’oma and Richard Chimwendo-Banda, respectively, were all in the hall.

Hardly did we see the candidates engaging each other as all of them focused on the stage where Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials were counting votes. Each of these had their cheerleaders they spoke to.

The faces were generally grumpy and there could be two possible explanations—exhaustion after an overnight gig of casting votes and, indeed, fear of losing. 

Only Kezzie Msukwa, who was competing for the position of first deputy president, seemed so much at ease as he engaged the audience with announcements as the convention steering committee’s chairperson.

Delegates, too, were not as jovial as on the first day of the convention.  They told stories of hope and worry in their small circles.

“Koma ambuye aliko ziyenda ndithu [God is great it will work in our favour]”, said one woman clad in the party’s regalia, as she spoke to one of the members of Parliament (MP) who were campaigning for Chithyola-Banda.

The talk of hope did not last as unofficial results began to pour in. Chimwendo-Banda had become the centre of attraction as people congratulated him just as the counting of votes went on.

By noon, it was clear he had carried the day.

“My candidate has made it,” screamed Joshua Malango, an MP, who was Chimwendo-Banda’s monitor during counting of votes. He looked so happy and was seen showing Chimwendo some paper, probably the results sheet.

Even when it became so clear he was the winner, Chimwendo Banda, formerly MCP director of youth, suppressed his feelings, a sign of maturity to avoid antagonising losers.

Gloomy faces could easily be separated from happy ones.

Meanwhile, another rumour that Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani-Hara had won the male-dominated race on the position of first deputy president was gathering momentum.

As if to break the silence, Gotani-Hara showed up alongside President Lazarus Chakwera at around 1pm. Their entry sent the hall into celebration. Gotani-Hara could not resist but dance along as others congratulated her. 

This seemed to be a shocker to many delegates as Gotani-Hara was not so much in the picture as a serious contender for the position which attracted big guns such as Zikhale-Ng’oma, Moses Kunkuyu, Esther Mcheka-Chilenje, Msukwa and Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba who appeared like would be the real winners. But Mumba had already left when this was happening.

When the official announcement came in, the mere mention of names such as Chimwendo Banda, Gotani-Hara and Jessie Kabwila, attracted resounding applauses. These were part of the first 11 top positions that MEC announced in the presence of President Chakwera.

Chakwera himself demonstrated true leadership. He remained calm and avoided any temptation to be seen to rejoice over anyone’s win. Of course, once announced as a winner, each of the candidates gave him a handshake.

The President really managed his emotions. He also stands out for being part of the convention for the longest time without showing any fatigue. Other senior party members could be seen napping or yawning but Chakwera remained steady despite working overnight. While some had the luxury of stretching their legs due to fatigue, perhaps due to protocol, Chakwera remained on his seat for hours on end.

It was also interesting to note that other big guns such as Mkaka, Zikhale-Ng’oma, Mumba, and Chithyola-Banda—all losers—were nowhere to be seen during the partial announcement of results.

Some delegates argued that the President’s address which chided the money politics, which characterised the MCP campaign, could have worked against some delegates. They said such a message de-campaigned the candidates who were splashing money.

In his opening address, Chakwera urged candidates to desist from voting for any candidate because of handouts, which he described as corruption.

Chithyola-Banda and Zikhale-Ng’oma hit the headlines for splashing millions to delegates, which the party justified as reimbursements.

When the elections are done and dusted, the new NEC led by Chimwendo-Banda as head of the party’s secretariat, shoulders a great task to reunite the party that may be divided because of the fractious nature of the elections.