Richard Msowoya declares to partner Chakwera in 2019

Tom Sangala July 24, 2017

410 2 minutes read

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) vice-president, Richard Msowoya, on Sunday announced his intention to be MCP president Lazarus Chakwera’s running mate in the 2019 presidential elections.

Msowoya declared that Chakwera and him are the only capable leaders to carry the MCP flag in the 2019 elections, arguing the pair has a good vision for Malawi.

He was speaking at a rally he conducted in Mzimba on Sunday together with the party’s secretary general Gustavo Kaliwo and publicity secretary Jessie Kabwira.

Mzimba South East Constituency Member of Parliament, Christopher Mnyenyembe, and Alex Major of Kasungu West and some party officials who sat at the podium stood up to support Msowoya’s declaration.

“My fellow Northerners, I have total trust in our president Lazarus Chakwera to be a better candidate to lead the country. I am sure that I also qualify to be his deputy as you have observed that I have performed well in the party. Therefore, I call upon you, my fellow MCP members, to support me so that I and Chakwera continue leading the party into government come 2019 elections,” Msowoya said.

Addressing journalists later, Msowoya said, despite that the MCP convention decides the candidate to lead the party in elections, it is his wish that the delegates should decide in his favour, arguing it is only the pair of Chakwera and Msowoya that can manage to take MCP into government in 2019.

Before Msowoya made his stand, Kabwira openly said he supports the pairing, arguing changing the pair is like dishonouring the delegates who had total hope in the two.

“We hear some people already declared their interest in the position of MCP running mate. That is not allowed in the genuine MCP camp. Such people are supposed to be told that the party already has capable leaders who are holding the same positions and joining the party with conditions is not allowed.

“When I speak like that, you label me a disgruntled leader; do you want us to be watching things that have potential to destroy our beloved party?” Kabwira queried.

However, Kaliwo avoided commenting on the Chakwera and Msowoya pairing as he concentrated on undermining the recent rally at which Chakwera welcomed renowned politician Sidik Mia.

“In line with the power invested in me as Secretary [General] of the party, rallies are supposed to pass through my office. Therefore, my absence at the rally was because I was not aware of it.

“What happened at Ngabu [Sports Ground] was breaking the unity which the president and the National Executive Committee members agreed to stop [breaking] during the recent meeting,” Kaliwo said.

Kaliwo’s sentiments were echoed by Msowoya, who said some politicians are not following proper procedures in joining the party.

“I have welcomed Mayor for Mzuzu City William Mkandawire here. He followed proper procedures by joining the party through the area, constituency, district and region and, today, at Executive Committee level. Therefore, those who are breaking such procedures should be questioned; [especially] the intention behind their joining,” Msowoya said.

Almost all the speakers indorsed Chakwera and Msowoya as MCP presidential candidate and running mate, respectively.