The convntion for opposition MCP scheduled for this month has been postponed to a later date because it clashed with the current sitting of budget session of Parliament, party’ president John Tembo has said.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Thursday, Tembo said they rescheduled the convention to between June 27 and 28 after they failed to hold it in April, but said Parliament is also expected to rise on June 28. The party, however, says the convention will likely take place in July.
“We can’t have delegates arriving on the same date Parliament is rising, particularly when we are passing a very important item as the budget,” said Tembo.
When the party postponed its convention in April, it cited insufficient funds after it had only raised K20 million out of the needed K35 million and hiccups to accommodate about 700 delegates at one place, Natural Resources College (NRC). Tembo said all logistical constraints have now been fixed.
“Within the party, we are ready. We want all delegates to be housed properly within the same building,” said Tembo.
Asked what more than 10 candidates vying for the party’s presidential position means to him, he said the fight for the position shows people are interested in MCP.
Said Tembo: “The position which has attracted most interest is that of presidency. I have said people should come and campaign freely.
“Don’t you find it surprising that DPP had two candidates, UDF had one while MCP has 12 candidates? If there are many people running for a particular position, obviously it means there is a fight for that position provided they qualify.”
He defended the eight-point criteria for scrutinising aspirants for the party’s national executive committee (NEC) positions, including that of presidency, saying every organisation has its own rules.
“That is very important because some people come in just to inquire. Any organisation, whether a political party or government, has rules. People make applications and then the organisation sits down to see whether they qualify. It is not strange for the party to do that,” said Tembo.
He refused to comment on suggestions that some MCP members want to offer him an exit position if he leaves the position to fresh blood. Tembo said he has not received any communication on the matter and described the offer as “creation of the media’.
On the date of the convention, MCP NEC public relations officer Vitus Dzoole Mwale, who, in an interview also disclosed that he is vying for the position of secretary general, said the indaba may take place in July and not in August to enable them to accommodate all delegates at NRC while the college’s students are on holiday.
“It may take place in July or thereabout when NRC students will be on holiday. Immediately we rise from Parliament, it will give a chance for NEC and the President to decide on the specific date for the convention,” said Dzoole Mwale.
In an interview on Thursday, MCP administrative secretary Potiphar Chidaya said less than 10 people have submitted nomination papers for the position of secretary general, but he refused to disclose names of the other aspirants for the position.
“We will give out all names at the right time,” said Chidaya who also said MCP NEC will decide on the new dates for the convention.
Apart from Tembo, other people who have submitted nomination papers for MCP presidency are retired Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo, former Malawi Assemblies of God president the Reverend Dr Lazarus Chakwera, former Cabinet minister Jodder Kanjere, former Farmers Union of Malawi (Fum) president Felix Jumbe, former secretary general Betson Majoni, the party’s former director of political affairs Eston Kakhome, secretary general Chris Daza and Nkhotakota Central MP Edwin Banda.
