For some politicians in the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), August has not been a mere month; it has turned out to be a definitive moment for their political career.
Once puffed up with hope, their tyre of hope was deflated by seemingly simple delegates, the majority of whom were men and women who covered the length and breadth of the country to be at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, the venue of the MCP elective indaba.
And, so, what was supposed to be a springboard for yielding more political power turned out to be a mantrap, where some of the people who overvalued their importance were shoved out of their positions.
Now their fortress of hope has turned into a pile of bitter memories.
This is despite that before heading for the convention grounds, the aspirants for positions took premeditated steps, including meeting would-be-delegates across the country, to sell their agenda.
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The issue of money-splashing also came into the picture, with would-be delegates reportedly getting transport reimbursements and other forms of reimbursement to ensure that they went back home satisfied.
This is despite that meetings that were organised to canvas for votes were conducted closer to delegates’ hamlets.
Maybe it was ‘harvest’ time for delegates, most of whom had been forgotten once the last elective indaba for party positions took place
And guess what happened at BICC, where the MCP elective convention took place, and Comesa Hall in Blantyre, where the DPP convention took place! Some delegates literally mutinied by voting for unexpected aspirants.
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Today, the once-confident aspirants have been sent to the bitter house of reality, where they are thinking about what went wrong, how they misunderstood delegates, what they could have done better than they did and what other places they could have visited in the search for votes at conventions.
Maybe, somehow, some top-ranking party officials were well assured of garnering a plenitude of votes, such that they underrated the instinctual and canny maneuvers of some of the so-called simple men and women that were serving as delegates.
Convention chairmen’s loss
For the most part, delegates to the MCP and DPP conventions had the last laugh.
Take, for instance, the failed bid of Kezzie Msukwa of MCP.
Despite being the chairperson for the well-organised MCP convention, he fell by the sword of delegates’ votes.
Credit to Msukwa, the convention in Lilongwe was the best organised in recent years.
Everything was on course, in terms of transportation, security, accommodation for delegates, food, media accreditation and what have you.
Gauging by the way the convention was organised and held, one did not expect Msukwa to fail to attain his dream at the convention.
However, delegates had other ideas, such that he did not make it at the polls.
Coincidentally, this scene also played itself out at the DPP convention, where legislator and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament George Chaponda—who chaired the convention committee—did a commendable job.
For instance, he and committee members ensured that delegates from far and wide reached the destination of the convention and exercised their right to vote.
Chaponda and the organising committee also ensured that there was tight security at the venue, where delegates were scrutinised to ensure that they had been invited to the event.
Talking about accommodation, every delegate was well fed.
Gauging by the high standards of organisation, one did not expect Chaponda to lose to Joseph Mwanamvekha for the second vice president position for the Southern Region.
However, delegates had other ideas.
Perhaps what happened to Msukwa and Chaponda is an indication that democracy is at work in political parties in the country.
Move towards transparency
One other aspect that came out clearly during the two parties’ national conventions was that of transparency and accountability, as Malawi Electoral Commission officials were engaged as returning officers, thereby ensuring reliability of the results.
Vote counting, too, took place in front of everyone.
Additionally, losers accepted delegates’ verdict while victors celebrated responsibly.
The sure way to win
Again, what came out clearly at the MCP and DPP conventions is that the sure way to win party elections is to go unopposed.
For case studies, one simply has to think about MCP president Lazarus Chakwera and DPP president Peter Mutharika.
Convention organising committee chairpersons had indicated well in advance that no other people, apart from Chakwera and Mutharika, had collected nomination forms for the president seat.
As such, Chakwera and Mutharika’s ‘victory’ at the party polls was guaranteed.
No wonder, they both oozed confidence in their speeches, with Chakwera saying the MCP was poised to win the September 16 2025 Presidential Election.
And when opening the DPP convention on Sunday, Mutharika sounded equally confident, saying MCP’s reign would come to an end when eligible Malawians [those who have attained the age of 18 and have national identity cards] exercise their voting right next year.
Others that went unopposed at the MCP convention included director of recruitment Madalitso Kazombo.
As for the DPP, others—apart from Mutharika—that went unopposed included party and Mutharika’s spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, apparently after the only other contender for the position had chickened out at the eleventh hour.
Apparently, people eyeing 19 positions went unopposed. Among them is Northern Region vice president Jappie Mhango.
Tough money talk
At both conventions—which are the only ones that have taken place in preparation for next year’s national elections so far—party leaders spoke tough against the culture of cash handouts.
It all started with Chakwera, who warned delegates not to be carried away by monetary incentives offered by some aspirants, saying money had the potential to kill the soul of the party.
At Comesa Hall in Blantyre, Mutharika said something to the same effect, asking delegates to vote for substance and not be coerced by money offered by some aspirants.
Maybe political party leaders are preparing for life in the era of a Political Parties’ Act that proscribes cash and other handouts during political campaign.
Maybe, in the minds of the two party leaders, cash and other handouts have the potential to create a spirit of anarchic opportunism in political parties.
Other shocking results
The MCP convention was marked by tough contests, with director of campaign Moses Kunkuyu among others that did not retain the positions.
Secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka also lost his position.
In short, the elections saw six Cabinet ministers—namely Ken Zikhale Ng’oma, Kunkuyu, Simplex Chithyola Banda, Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, Titus Mvalo and Jacob Hara—losing while four others recorded victories.
On the position of MCP second in command, Speaker of Parliament Catherine Gotani Hara shrugged off stiff competition from eight other contestants to emerge victorious after amassing 438 votes.
She was closely followed by engineer Vitumbiko Mumba who got 313 votes, while Ahmed Dasu came third with 168 votes.
Kunkuyu was fourth, with Zikhale Ngoma emerging fifth.
On the position of secretary general, Local Government Minister Richard Chimwendo Banda lived to his billing as bulldozer when he dusted six other giants to emerge victorious with 670 votes, beating closest competitor Finance Minister Chithyola Banda with about 141 votes at 529 votes.
The then-secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka was a distant third with 61 votes.
At the DPP convention, competition for some positions was equally tough.
For instance, for the position of vice president for the Southern Region, Joseph Mwanamvekha defeated Chaponda with 1,562 votes to 714.
And, like a man, Chaponda was gracious in defeat.
“DPP is one family, such that I will support him,” he said.
Former Cabinet minister Bright Msaka was among those that went home smiling after winning the contest for Eastern Region vice president, beating Lonnie Chijere Phiri with 1,549 votes to 702.
Things also went well for Alfred Gangata, who has been given the mandate to continue serving as vice president for the Central Region after beating Paul Gadama.
Peter Mukhito is now the party’s secretary general after beating Clement Mwale while Mary Navicha is DPP’s director of women after beating Rosa Mbilizi.
Norman Chisale is the party’s director of youth, having beaten Dytom Mussa, Frank Chiwanda and Benson Khofi.
Gladys Ganda competed against Jean Mathanga on the position of director of elections. Chipiliro Mpinganjira has taken over the position of director of legal affairs, taking over from Charles Mhango, among other positions.
Eyes on UDF, UTM, PP, Aford conventions
Now that the MCP and DPP have passed one hurdle, namely elective conventions, eyes are now on the Alliance for Democracy (Aford), United Democratic Front (UDF), People’s Party and UTM Party, among other political parties.
Aford recently announced that it had postponed its convention.
The UDF recently did the same—with the parties yet to announce new dates.
They have, however, indicated that the elective conventions would be held.
As for UTM and PP, there have been no changes to convention dates yet, meaning that everything is set for them.
