The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is set to hold its convention in August next year, according to communication from the party’s secretary general (SG) Eisenhower Mkaka to National Executive Committee (Nec) members and regional chairpersons.
In the memo, Mkaka says, at the moment, no member is allowed to campaign for any position in the party.
“I would like to make a clarification that, much as the convention will, indeed, take place in August 2024, the party has not given carte blanche to anyone to start campaigning for any electable position in the National Executive Committee. It follows, therefore, that campaigning for any Nec position is currently not allowed,” the memo reads.
He says, in due course, the Nec would meet and give proper guidelines in relation to the convention.
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When we contacted MCP publicity secretary Ezekiel Ching’oma for his comment on the issue, he said he was surprised that the communication has become public, as it was “meant for Nec members only”.
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Meanwhile, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace National Coordinator Boniface Chibwana has said holding any elective conference or convention is a progressive undertaking in every political party, for it gives members leverage to vie for positions of their choice.
He said convocation also encourages intraparty democracy as opposed to the appointment of people to party positions.
“Campaign legitimises the process. It is, therefore, disturbing to learn from the SG of MCP that no member should campaign prior to August 2024. What the secretary of the party is doing is gaging members who are aspiring for strategic positions within the party. “Perhaps the SG has valid reasons for that decision but it is a very retrogressive directive because it affects free participation within the party. This directive might have dire consequences within the party if not reversed,” Chibwana said.
