The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) says it is in the process of trimming the number of presidential candidates for the forthcoming convention, incumbent president John Tembo has said.
Tembo said the party’s national executive committee (NEC) has agreed that there are too many presidential candidates and the politburo will report back to him on Tuesday.
Currently, there are 12 candidates vying for the position of president.
In an interview with Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) Tiuzeni Zoona programme on Sunday, Tembo said he suggested stepping down, but only seven of the 25 members at a meeting last week agreed to his suggestion.
He denied reports that he is imposing himself as a candidate, saying the NEC and the criteria committee is scrutinising names of possible candidates.
Tembo refused to commit on the announced dates by the party’s spokesperson Jolly Kalelo, who he described as childish for sending reports of the NEC meeting to the media while it was in session.
Last week Kalelo told the media that the party will hold the convention on August 9 to 11, but Tembo said NEC will issue a statement on confirmed dates and venue.
The party’s scrutiny committee recently said aspirants should have served as MCP members for not less than five years to be presidential candidates.
