By Pemphero Malimba:
The governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) says it will not attend the United Democratic Front (UDF) elective convention slated for October 2 2024 in Blantyre.
This comes after the cancellation of an invitation that UDF sent to MCP representatives to avail themselves of the convention.
MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda says in a statement that the party has resorted to refrain from attending the convention.
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“We have become aware of certain tribally motivated elements within the opposition that are intent on using our presence at the UDF convention to incite violence and disrupt the proceedings in their quest to besmirch the credibility of the UDF and MCP, which elements we have no interest in enabling out of concern for the safety of the convention delegates and the political stability of Malawi,” he says.
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He commended the former governing party for inviting the MCP to the convention.
“We wholeheartedly wish the UDF a successful and harmonious convention and MCP looks forward to working with the UDF for a peaceful, democratic and developed Malawi,” Chimwendo Banda said.
On Saturday, UDF publicity secretary Yusuf Mwawa said the party had engaged the MCP and resolved the matter.
“Hon Aisha Mambo not proceeding with her intention to resign from the chairpersonship of the elective conference and the Malawi Congress Party accepting the UDF’s decision to withdraw its invitation for the MCP to attend the opening function of the elective conference shows that the party has, once again, demonstrated that statesmanship in a democracy works,” Mwawa said in a statement.
