Chakwera presents nomination papers for MCP presidency: Malawi road to 2014
Malawi Assemblies of God president the Reverend Dr Lazarus Chakwera presented his nomination papers to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) on Friday to ensure he runs for the party’s presidency.
The charismatic ‘Man of God’ confirmed with Nyasa Times in a telephone interview Friday evening that he submitted his documents to the party and is ready to contest at the convention.
“I went to MCP headquarters to present my nomination papers but the Administrative Secretary [Portipher Chidaya] was not in his office and I went to present to Central Region chairman [Daniel Mlomo] to submit my papers,” said the 58-year-old religious leader.
He told Nyasa Times that he was “excited” that he is going to vie for MCP presidency, saying “it will up to people to decide.”
Chakwela said he was “encouraged” with the support MCP members were giving him.
Asked on what kind of relationship he has with incumbent MCP president John Tembo, the respectable church leader said: “The relationship with honourable Tembo has always been cordial.”
Chakwela said the National Executive Committee of Malawi Assemblies of God, the board of Elders of International Christian Assembly (ICA) and his family are supportive of his political involvement.
The well-known cleric educated in Malawi, South Africa and the United States, said it is his hope that MCP delegates will make “informed” decision to vote wisely at the convention.
The MCP convention is scheduled to take place later this year at the Bingu International Conference Centre in Lilongwe.
According to Joseph Njobvuyalema, chairperson of the organising committee for the MCP convention, there are four aspirants for the MCP presidency including Chakwera, Nkhotakota Central Member of Parliament (MP) Edwin Banda, controversial incumbent secretary general Chris Daza and former Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) president Felix Jumbe.
MCP presidential candidate to be selected at the convention would face People’s Party’s Joyce Banda ,United Democratic Front’s Atupele Muluzi and Democratic Progressive Party’s Peter Mutharika among others.
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