MCP to postpone April convention as court reserves ruling on injunction
Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) will likely postpone its convention in April this year after High Court in Blantyre reserved its determination to rift an injunction obtained by party’s Vice President Richard Msowoya and four other members.
The April 4-7 2018 gathering at Mary Mount Secondary School in Mzuzu is expected to put in office new leadership and choose a president who will lead the party in the 2019 Tripartite Elections.
The country’s oldest political grouping has been embroiled in deep-rooted internal wrangles with some faction that has reportedly been scheming against party president Dr Lazarus Chakwera and the disputes saw the party leadership dismissing its publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila and also suspending its first vice-president Richard Msowoya, secretary general Gustav Kaliwo and treasurer general Tony Kandiero.
Msowoya’s faction obtained the injunction restraining the party from convening an elective convention and stopping Chakwera, first defendant Ezekiel Ching’oma (representing all members of MCP national executive council – NEC), second defendant, from planning to hold the convention until the court makes determination.
But judge Jack N’riva after hearing submissions from both parties, on a Tuesday adjourned the matter to an unspecified date when he will deliver his ruling.
During their submissions, lawyers Robert Nthewa and Charles Mhone representing Chakwera and Ching’oma asked the court to discharge the injunction “in the interest of justice” as the Msowoya faction did not exhaust internal mechanism within the party as stipulated in article 65 of the MCP constitution.
Former Attorney General, Kalekeni Kaphale, now in private practice, argued that by calling for the convention, the MCP NEC acted against the party’s constitution because the body was illegitimate, saying he restructured the NEC by removing old members and unilaterally replacing them with new ones.
Kaphale also questioned the legality of the meeting of MCP NEC in January which resolved to call for April convention and that Msowoya’s faction were suspended “without rules of natural Justice.”
He argued: “The meeting by the NEC in January did not have any agenda. We were told the agenda would be circulated at the meeting.”
But lawyer Nthewa argued that Chakwera never flouted the party constitution as he was mandated by the 2013 national convention to fill in the res sing positions in the NEC.
Nthewa said the current NEC has the mandate to advance the objectives of the party and the Msowoya faction were only suspended from their positions and not expelled from the party, saying they would have to take a party convention as a right platform to claim their positions.
“They can renew their positions during the convention if nothing stands their way,” he said.
But Kaliwo objected that the convention does not give the president the appointing powers, saying such authority lies in the party constitution.
MCP supporters who came to the court clad in their party clothes booed Kaliwo as he left the court premises in his black Mercedes Benz with a South African registration. Some MCP supporters banged his vehicle while insulting Kaliwo.
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This will give chakwera more time to clean his fake accent, change that stupid accent, it does not suit you my friend. LOSER!!!!
Kaliwo which constitution are you talking about? You elected by mcp NEC and the very same NEC have decided to suspend you. Whats your problem? Wake up. Ukadyzaso zambiri zimatsamwa if you don’t know, leave the party, if you want please go and compete at the convention, they are just using you like a condom once the battle is won you will be disappointed as they kick you out.
If I had a revolver the first people to assassinate were Msowoya and Kaliwo. This doent mean I may not be able to acquire one. Take care. Amene akutumaniwo akupatseni ma bodyguard
The Kaliwo and Msowoya camp is not afraid of the convention but worried about Chakwera’s make shift and doctored NEC. Yes the last convention gave Chakwera powers to fill the remaining positions but one would interpret it to mean only filling the positions once. Now Chakwera has become a habitual position filler and this is unconstitutional. Revert to the original and genuine NEC and then proceed with the convention. otherwise slap Chakwera with contempt of court. Masapota a kongilesi omwe anapita Ku khoti a munambala teni. Even if we gross them up sangawinise chipani. Zikumveka kuti anthu amenewa anachokera Ku… Read more »
D.P.P inu ndiye zimenezo muzitenga kuti? Man iweyotu ndi ache Kaliwo akowa Chakwera simungamuthe, this guy Chakwera knows what politics is.
We are not worried kaya kukhala Convention or not this means amene alipowa akhala omwewa hahahahahahahahahaha!
Ziyambika kwanuko ndipo kukhala kayakaya hahahahaha!
Tikamati inu anu ndi ma khotiwa ndi Zodiak ndiye muziletsa?
The so called Kaliwo, Msowoya, Kandielo, Kabwira have to go and remove the shit in their pants. Nothing to offer to the malawians
And the courts should treat this as very important and should be careful particularly Judge N’riva as the Kaliwos can destroy his career. Looking at the situation dpp is behind the scene as they know MCP and Chakwera is forming next govt mark my words and courts must handle internal political matters carefully. There is is no criminal activity but party constitution. Kaliwo was appointed by the neck not convention so you Judge N’riva tell him to go to convention and get elected now not appointed period courts wont sort out party issues.
What convinces you that DPP is involved?
If it is indeed involved and they have succeeded to bringing chaos to MCP, can you then say MCP has leaders worth running this country?
Stop being cry babies, man up and sort your mess without smearing it on others.
kkkk .Road to 2019 ibeba koma.. I see other parties joining the court wars soon..
BUSHIRI PLEASE RESCUE
THE LAND OF MALAWI
OTHERWISE I FORESEE
MORE PROBLEMS COMING
THAN NEVER BEFORE IN
HUMAN HISTORY
PLEASE YOUNG AND VIBRANT
LEADERS WAKE UP DON’T
GIVE CHANCE TO THESE OLD
WOODS
LET THEM REST LIKE
THEIR BROTHER MUGABE
WE NEED YOUNG AND
VIBRANT LEADERS OF http://WWW.COM
WHO CAN TAKE US TO
ANOTHER LEVEL
Magufuli, how does Bushiri come in? Leave Major 1 alone, he’s not a politician and please don’t drag him into politics. He already declared that for him joining politics would be like demoting himself from his highest God given position. Your name Magufuli speaks volumes of ignorance because you have really goofed!
This is the end of the political career for Gustav, Richard Msowoya et. al with MCP. Under any circumstance, these people cannot be voted on any party position at the MCP Convention. Kicks of dying horses and they will be buried politically very soon. Tell me if these people would dare MCP supporters anger to even attend the Convention. MCP will come out very strong after the Convention and these guys know it. MCP will not cry a tear losing these liabilities. It is just a matter of time. MCP will go into the 2019 elections a very formidable force,… Read more »
Uku ndiye timati kuzikwata ndi cahni?
Balotani, kulota saletsa.
Kamuzu ali ndiii pa nsalu ya chipani, you think mungawine? maloto