MCP’s administrator Portipher Chidaya dies: ‘He was an institutional memory’

One of the opposition Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) long serving members and Administrative Secretary, Portipher Chidaya has died, the party has  confirmed.

Chidaya,who was admitted at Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) in Lilongwe this week, died Saturday 27th May  after succumbing to liver failure and low blood pressure.

MCP’s deputy Secretary General, Eisenhower Mkaka while confirming to Nyasa Times, described Chidaya’s death as a big blow considering his contribution to the party.

“He was an institutional memory and a big resource for the party,” said Mkaka.

“Chidaya was good administrator who knew his job. He worked with late Hastings Kamuzu Banda, late Gwanda Chakuamba, and John Tembo and was very close to our leader Dr. Lazarus Chakwera,” said Mkaka.

Currently the party is waiting for the deceased’s family to come up with funeral arrangements.

Chidaya was once convicted by the Lilongwe Magistrates Court in 2012 together with then party president, John Tembo and his bodyguard-cum-driver William Phakamisa for assaulting Lilongwe North Parliamentarian, Titus Malipa on July 1, 2009 at MCP headquarters in Lilongwe.

They assaulted Malipa who was accused of siding with leadership change activists.

Malipa and Dowa West MP, Abele Kayembe had mobilized supporters to hold a demonstration calling for Tembo’s ouster as the party’s leader.