MCP set to appeal district chairmen case

Main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) says it is appealing against a High Court ruling which gave the country’s oldest party 90 days to hold a convention to elect new leadership in certain departments.

Lawyer for the party Peter Chakwantha said the MCP legal team was at the doorstep of the High Court on Monday to appeal against the ruling only to be returned because staff at the court were in a workshop.

“We have been told to come back on Thursday, that is when the whole process of appeal starts,” said Chakwantha who is also MCP legislator for Lilongwe City South.

Chakwantha said the legal team wants to persuade the Supreme Court judges that the matter be reheard.

The district chairmen faulted party president Lazarus Chakwera for annulling some appointments made at national convention in 2013 and making his own appointments saying this was in violation of the party constitution.

The High Court gave the party an option of either holding a convention with 90 days or revert to old positions made during the 2013 convention.