MCP civil war go much deeper: Chakwera’s stern test

The opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP)  is embroiled in its bloodiest civil war for decades after some senior officials made allegations that its leadership is nepotistic and intolerant of other views.

In a move  to quell dissent in the party, MCP president Lazarous Chakwera summoned a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Lilongwe on Wednesday but turned out to be more destructive as party cadres  barred secretary general Gustav Kaliwo from the meeting roughed up.

Some officials  suspected to be in the ring of dissenting views were also reportedly assaulted by patry cadres.

MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila, who is also Saima North-West member of parliament (MP)  and veteran politican and legislature  Joseph Njobvuyalema shunned the meeting.

They members however proposed that they should be suspended pending disciplinary hearing.

While Salima Central legislator Felix Jumbe, also second deputy director of strategic planning, was expelled in absentia.

Jumbe was  also removed as Agriculture Committee chair in Parliament and allocated what he thought was a weaker position.

There was  also a conspicuous abscence of  administrative secretary Portipher Chidaya.

The meeting reportedly agreed not to effect any suspension of the officials but that all the accused be given a right to be heard by a disciplinary committe.

MCP also agreed to hold a national convetion in due course.

Some disgruntled MCP members were calling for an early convention in protest of party president Chakwera’s style of leadership.

In May this year, some MCP officials—including district chairpersons and committee members—dragged the party to court, demanding an emergency convention asserting serious irregularities over how Chakwera runs the party and appointed some NEC members.

“It’s now a choice between the survival of MCP or Chakwera ’s leadership,”  said one of the NEC members who attended the meeting.

MCP has alleged that its problems are a result of external influences.