Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has postponed its elective convention, which was supposed to take place on December 26 and 27 this year, to a later date, which “will be announced in due course”.
The High Court had ordered the party to hold the convention before the end of this year.
DPP spokesperson Shadric Namalomba said yesterday the postponement follows an order by the same court that has extended the period from the initial 90 days pronounced on September 29.
Namalomba said the new dates for the elective convention will be set once the National Governing Council convenes again.
The court order has been issued on the application of DPP’s lawyer Charles Mhango on behalf of the party.
Meanwhile, political analyst Enerst Thindwa has said the key issue in DPP, “like in most parties”, is inadequate intra[1]party democracy.
“Contestation for the party leadership position often occurs in an environment devoid of democratic tradition and procedures, which robs our parties of the inherent mechanism to deal with potential and actual conflicts as well as manage excessive egos,” Thindwa said.
He called on DPP to realise that the problems in the party are largely political rather than legal and that the best the court can do is not provide solutions but guidance and give relief to individuals within the party who feel injured.
Since its loss in the June 23, 2020, court-sanctioned presidential election, DPP has been caught in infighting that experts have described as not healthy for the party.
The situation has resulted in party divisions.
The bone of contention has been the party’s leadership succession, with Mulanje Central legislator Kondwani Nankhumwa declaring his intention to compete at the party’s convention.
