Convention can nullify NEC eligibility criteria—MCP

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has admitted that the upcoming convention can remove the national executive committee (NEC) eligibility criteria barring aspirants who have not been its members for, at least, two years.

The current NEC made the resolutions earlier this year, sparking debate as to whether the decision is binding or open to the convention scrutiny.

However, commenting on the matter for the first time, the convention steering committee chairperson Kezzie Msukwa said the aspiring candidates will be screened against the new criteria.

Speaking at a press conference where he announced that nominations will start tomorrow until July 15, he signalled that the convention will scrutinise the new requirements.

He said: “About the two years set by NEC, we, as the steering committee, haven’t heard anything to the contrary. As such, the nomination forms will actually stipulate that somebody has to attain the two years.

 “We are not changing anything until either the NEC or the convention itself tells us otherwise. That’s the position as at now.”

Msukwa was responding to queries on requirements that contradict the open door policy which the State and MCP President Lazarus Chakwera has continuously advocated.

In an interview yesterday, Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences-based political analyst Chimwemwe Tsitsi, said Msukwa’s assertions were an acknowledgement that the convention is bigger than NEC.

 “His response was political in nature. Perhaps, he was looking at what the MCP constitution says. In every political party, it is the convention which is the decision maker. It validates the NEC decisions.

Tsitsi, however, said in the event that NEC decides to scrap it off, the convention may still elect new officer bearers  under the new criteria as the nomination process would have long closed.

 “Perhaps, he was responding to say that much as NEC may have made that decision if the convention agreed otherwise, then they will be compelled to not go by that.

 “Practically, I don’t think that if NEC decides to remove that requirement it would apply at this convention,” he said.

Msukwa was flanked at the presser by Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu, who heads the protocol sub-committee and Joseph Njobvuyalema, who chairs the vetting subcommittee of the convention.

They also announced nomination fees for aspirants at the August 8-10 indaba as follows:  the presidency at K5 million, vice-president at K2.5 million

directorship at K500 000. Msukwa revealed that women, people with disabilities and youths have been  reduced by 50 percent.