DPP, People’s Party mum on conventions to elect torch bearers for 2019 polls

The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)  and opposition  People’s Party (PP) have kept a tight lead on their plans for national convention to elect torch bearers for the next year’s Tripartite Elections.

Out of the five political parties represented in Parliament, three–Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Democratic Front (UDF)–have indicated they are doing something about the big meet.

PP were scheduled to hold a convention in 2017 as stipulated by their party constitution.

But party spokesman  Noah Chimpeni said the party had no plans to hold the convetion last year.

He could not however disclose when the convention will be held.

“We are not other parties, we are People’s Party and, therefore, we have our own calendar of events. We cannot say just because MCP and DPP have set aside dates for their conventions, let us also do the same. When we are ready, we will let our member sknow that we are ready,” Chimpeni told Times Radio.

The country is expected to go for the second tripartite elections in May next year in what is expected to be a two-man battle between President Peter Mutharika, the DPP leader, and MCP president Lazarus Chakwera , who is also leader of opposition in Parliament.

DPP secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey and administrative secretary Francis Mphepo referred this reporter  to the party’s publicity secretary Francis Kasaila.

Kasaila said the party will organise a national convention but was evasive on dates.

He said “we will tell you when we are ready for that.”

University of Malawi’s (Unima) political scientist associate professor Happy Kayuni said in terms of the presidency of the parties, the current leadership will likely retain their positions because  they are not generally heavily contested.