Minister of Homeland Security Ezekiel Ching’oma has lamented ‘traps’ purportedly set by some governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leaders to frustrate sitting legislators and the old guard in the ongoing primaries.
In a video clip from a rally he addressed at Chowo ground in his Lilongwe East Constituency, he vowed to wage ‘war’ against all those plotting against the party’s old guard, as they struggled to keep MCP in shape while in opposition.
Ching’oma said they will not sit back and watch such politicking.
He said: “If you want us to pin each other down, this is the year and be ready! If there is someone who has suffered for the party, it is [former secretary general Eisenhower] Mkaka. Then someone just comes up today and doesn’t want Mkaka? Where were you when MCP was languishing in opposition?
“There is no way you can hate [former minister of Agriculture Lobin] Lowe who was Leader of Opposition in Parliament at a very difficult time for MCP. We have suffered for this party and then you want us away? We won’t let that happen, we shall fight, be ready for that fight.”
When asked to clarify the sentiments yesterday, Ching’oma asked for a questionnaire, which he was yet to respond by press time.
Mkaka, Lowe and MCP director of youth Steve Baba Malondera attended the rally.
Reacting to Ching’oma’s sentiments, Gift Sambo, an expert in identity and electoral politics at the University of Malawi, said the remarks suggest some antagonistic factions within MCP.
He said: “This is normal, especially when office-seeking politicians are fighting for political survival.Meanwhile, the primary elections that were re-scheduled for April 30 in Mzimba Central Constituency have been postponed because some candidates will be outside the country on official duties, according to MCP deputy secretary general Gerald Kazembe.
However, two of the contestants, Aram Beza and Patricia Singini, confirmed in separate interviews to have withdrawn from the race Monday because of ‘manipulated list of delegates’.
The withdrawal of the two leaves the race to Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba, and presidential adviser Adamson Kuseri Mkandawire.
Last week, MCP held an emergency management meeting to resolve emerging issues, mostly the challenges that have marred primary elections.
