MCP youth league members exchange blows in Lilongwe

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) members of their youth wing were engaged in a brawl in the capital Lilongwe on Wednesday as the party called fresh elections in its Southern Region Committee which has been fighting over positions.

A group of MCP youth league were conspicuous seen at MCP headquarters in Lilongwe youths engaging in running battles and skirmishes over internal disagreements.

The fight was happening when MCP Publicity Secretary Jessie Kabwila was addressing a news conference to announce the party’s reshuffle which has seen Henry Kamata been demoted from the position of Director of Elections, while former Deputy Director of Political Affairs, Jean Sendeza has been promoted.

Former director of political affairs, Maxwell Thyolera is now Director of Elections. Sendeza has now been made a full director. She will be deputised by Kamata.

During the fighting, the youth league attacked drivers for party president Lazarus Chakwera and barricaded the entrance to the headquarters.

Kabwila downplayed the fighting, calling it a “small matter.”

She said calm has returned to the party and warring factions have talked about it.

Meanwhile, Thyolera who announced regional elections for the south to be held on 20 June 2015.

He encouraged members of MCP Youth League to contest for positions.

“All people interested in any position should collect nomination forms from our Secretary General [Gustave Kaliwo],” Thyolera said.

Among the positions to be contested for are regional chairman, regional treasurer and regional secretary.

“We will make sure that no violence occurs during the elections. We will make sure that there is total adherence to the party’s four cornerstones [unity, loyalty, obedience and discipline] during the electoral process,” Thyolera said.

He said elections in other regions will be held later.

Recently, there were leadership wrangles in the southern region, with some people opposing the leadership of the current regional chairperson Denis Nanthumba preferring the leadership of Eston Kakhome.