Tembo has confidence in MCP NEC

Former MCP president John Tembo has described the newly appointed National Executive Committee (NEC) as capable of making the party a formidable force following his exit in August this year.

Tembo’s remarks come a week after the party’s new president Dr Lazarus Chakwera announced names of new NEC members, including academic and human rights activist Dr Jessie Kabwila as MCP spokesperson.

In an interview on Friday, Tembo said he is confident that the new NEC would mobilise support from across the country to take MCP into government next year.

“The new NEC is more than capable of taking MCP into government,” said Tembo.

But Tembo refused to comment on the dropping from NEC of some MCP veterans such as Lilongwe Mapuyu South MP Joseph Njobvuyalema, Lilongwe Msozi South legislator Vitus Dzoole Mwale and MP for Lilongwe Mpenu Watson Makala Ngozo.

“I can’t comment on that because the appointments have been made and announced by the president on behalf of the convention,” he said.

Dzoole Mwale said he was not bitter to have been left out of the NEC, saying his focus is to help MCP win next year’s elections.

“It was the prerogative of the president. He was given the mandate by the convention to appoint NEC members. We are all going to work together so that we should go into government next year.

“The president has chosen the right people who have talent. As of now, it’s not an issue of having a position. I can still support MCP even outside NEC,” said Dzoole Mwale.

Efforts to talk to Njobvuyalema and Makala Ngozo proved futile as their phones were off on Thursday and Friday.