MCP chairs petition JZU on convention

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) district chairpersons from the Central and Lakehore regions have petitioned the party’s president John Tembo demanding that the party should not postpone again its convention slated for August 9 to 11.

The officials argue that further delays will affect the party’s performance in next year’s elections.

The petition signed by 14 chairpersons from the two regions has also asked the party not to trim the number of aspirants who would want to contest for the party’s top job.

The chairpersons came up with the petition following a meeting they had on Thursday in Lilongwe where they expressed concerns that the direction MCP was taking was no longer inspiring to the members of the party.

“Mr president, we would want to ask you that the dates, which have been set to hold the convention should not be postponed again since time for the party to get prepared for the 2014 polls is running out and holding the convention now will give hope to our members,” the statement reads.

Chairpersons who have signed the petition are from Dedza Valley, Lilongwe Urban, Lilongwe Rural West, Mchinji South, Nkhotakota, Ntcheu, Kasungu East and West, Dowa West, Salima and Ntcheu Bwanje.

In an interview, Foloma Mwale, one of the chairpersons, said they decided to write the petition after observing that the party has been changing dates for the convention anyhow since April 27.

As we went to press, Tembo and the party’s secretariat were not available for comment.

This week, the party said it will not trim the number of candidates.