MCP NEC endorses Chakwera, to stand in 2019
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) National Executive Committee (NEC) has resolved that current president Dr Lazarus Chakwera remain its presidential candidate come 2019, Weekend Nation has learnt.
This follows a NEC meeting held at the party’s headquarters in Lilongwe on December 18 2015.
The meeting, according to a source, was attended by among others, Chakwera, his deputy who is also Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya, general secretary Gustave Kaliwo, party publicist Jessie Kabwila, director of women Martha Chirambo, campaign director Felix Jumbe and deputy campaign director Joseph Njobvuyalema.
Kabwila confirmed the development to Weekend Nation, but said the endorsement does not bar anyone from contesting for the party’s hot seat and any other positions at the party’s convention.
According to Kabwila, NEC met to conduct a post-mortem of the party’s performance in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections.
“As a party, we met to discuss various issues, among others, our performance in the 2014 elections and secretary general Gustave Kaliwo presented a report on the same which is going to be made public very soon,” said Kabwila.
But according to sources, the proposal to endorse Chakwera was unanimously agreed within the NEC through a vote.
Kabwila has since justified the move, saying it was done in the spirit of rebuilding the party in readiness for the 2019 elections, adding that the endorsement is subject to approval by the party’s convention.
She said NEC also agreed to hold an early convention to give whoever will be elected as MCP’s torchbearer for the 2019 elections enough time to prepare.
Article 30 of MCP constitution provides that a convention should be held every five years and that new office bearers be voted into various positions, including that of president, vice-president and secretary general.
Kabwila said the NEC resolutions were made in the party’s best interests and the leadership will make sure an early convention is conducted within the laws.
But political analyst Mustapha Hussein has warned MCP NEC against endorsing its leaders, saying this may fall short of democratic principles governing intra-party politics.
“If the MCP constitution gives mandate to the president to call for a convention once in every five years, it is only right for the party to follow those provisions,” said Hussein.
He further said implementing these resolutions will jeopardise the trust Malawians started to build in MCP.
