Kabwila challenges Chakwera: ‘You have no powers to fire me’

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) former publicist Jessie Kabwila says party president Lazarus Chakwera and the national executive committee have no powers to strip off her position as spokesperson for the main opposition.

At a rally she held in her Salima North West constituency, the outspoken Kabwila said it is only the national convention which can remove her from the position.

“I was chosen through a convention process and the only way I can be removed is through the convention process,” she said.

She was speaking after serving a six month suspension and just a month after she was reinstated as a member of the party after a disciplinary hearing.

Outspoken Kabwila said the party flouted party rules and procedures, saying the MCP leadership has no mandate to fire hire as spokesperson.

She was suspended and reinstated along with Joseph Njobvuyalema who was also stripped of his party position.

However, the party fired Felix Jumbe, Salima central MP and Chatinkha Chidzanja Nkhoma, a businesswoman who is challenging Chakwera for party presidency.

MCP second deputy secretary general, who is also acting as secretary general, Eisenhower Mkaka is handling all publicity matters of the party.

Mkaka said rules of natural justice were applied before firing Kabwila as party publicity secretary.

He denied assertions by Kabwila that she was elected at a convention, saying Chakwera handpicked her for the job.

He therefore said there was nothing wrong for the national executive committee to fire her saying this is provided in the party constitution.