Wrangles mar MCP primaries

Hordes of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) supporters from Lilongwe City South East Constituency yesterday gathered at the party’s headquarters in City Centre, Lilongwe demanding to see president Lazarus Chakwera over disagreements on party structures.

The men and women, including area chairpersons, gathered at the MCP offices from 10am until 1.30pm when MCP publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila addressed them on their concerns.

The gathering nearly degenerated into chaos after one of the concerned individuals attempted to leave the premises, prompting some supporters to rush to the gate and close it, to prevent him from leaving.

One of the area chairpersons, who refused to be named, explained that the matter was an old issue which was refusing to die due to interference from some national executive committee (NEC) members.

Structures in the constituency have been split between Lodwell Kachibekete, who was suspended last year from his position as constituency chairperson, and Brandson Levison, who is the recognised constituency leader.

Said the chairperson: “Our party structures were intact. Everything was well, but now we hear that they have put in place some other constituency chairman who was suspended for being involved in fights. We want answers before primaries take place in our constituency.”

However, their demands to see Chakwera, who was present at the MCP offices, were not met instead Kabwila assured them that the party NEC would address their concerns.

In an interview, Kabwila played down the fracas, saying the party appreciated the method the people used to deliver their grievances and as a new MCP they would be addressed.

She said: “We have agreed that we will find them in the constituency, set up a committee and resolve the issues before primaries are held in the constituency. This discontent is emanating from issues from the past but they will be addressed.”

The party is also inundated with wrangles between candidates in Lilongwe City Centre Constituency after primaries were aborted last Saturday.

One of the candidates, Alfred Jiya, who was at the MCP office, claimed the primary election was halted after it was discovered that delegates were physically pushing others to the line of another candidate, a Dr Semphere.

The election was declared null and void after some delegates refused to conduct the poll a second time.