Aford members push for convention date
Some members of the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) have asked the party convention committee to come up with the exact date for their indaba.
At its meeting in December last year, the party’s National Executive Committee (Nec), agreed that the convention should be held between January and April this year.
But the senior members, led by Secretary General, Christopher Ritchie, say with no exact date set, it would be difficult on their part to prepare for the elective conference.
“Members of Aford are complaining that the date of the convention was not fixed. What we are saying is that when the [party’s] president [Enock Chihana] comes back from South Africa, he should announce the date,” Ritchie said.
He said the absence of Tanilani Chipeta, chairperson of the convention, who is also in South Africa, has worsened the situation.
Ritchie, Karonga Central Member of Parliament, Frank Mwenefumbo, and veteran politician Dan Msowoya have been pushing for the convention as soon as possible.
The party’s Publicity Secretary, Khumbo Mwaungulu, has blamed Ritchie and others for reviving confusion in the party.
“If they are making statements on behalf of the party, it is wrong. Last year, we agreed that it should only be the president or the publicity secretary speaking on party issues. If they are doing that, they are causing confusion in the party,” Mwaungulu said.
He said the convention committee will make an announcement at an appropriate time on when the convention will be held.
“The committee was elected towards the end of last year. If it raises enough resources, very soon it will announce the dates of the convention,” Mwaungulu said.
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