Nancy Tembo breaks MCP moratorium to run as independent MP
Former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) top official Nancy Tembo says she will run as an independent candidate in Lilongwe city south west constituency following her losing to party primary elections which she described as sham.
Incumbent member of parliament Rhino Chiphiko, a close ally of MCP leader Lazarus Chakwera won the elections criticized by many observers as not free, fair and credible.
Speaking in the constituency on Tuesday, Tembo said she has succumbed to pressure from all sections of society in her constituency to run as an independent candidate.
“I am not leaving MCP. I am still MCP but the constituents who include the youth, women, men, traditional leaders and businessmen have asked me to represent them in parliament,” she said.
On her Facebook wall, soon after losing the election, she quoted a Portuguese writer Jose Saramango: “It is difficult to understand these people who democratically take part in elections and a referendum, but are then incapable of democratically accepting the will of the people.”
Tembo was highly connected to the former MCP president John Tembo as she is married to the former ruling party strongman’s nephew, Morgan Tembo.
Chancellor College-based political analyst Ernest Thindwa said even if candidates signed the Code of Conduct, it is practically impossible to stop them from contesting since the law allows them.
Thindwa said if losing candidates decide to compete, this will likely split the votes for the party.
MCP president Lazarus Chakwera said the controversies experienced so far are lessons and an indication that the party is competitive and attractive to many.
I will relocate to LL city south west constituency, come May 2019, to vote for this great woman and subsequently organise a homecoming party for her when she crosses from independent to mother MCP come
Chakwera is building his own brand of MCP, his way of draining the swamp
We will vote for you in our multitudes Nancy. You are a great lady.
Ife kuno ku Area 22 takonzeka kale….mavoti migolomigolo ya Nabanda Mai Nancy Tembo
Tinamena Ife a Chakwera ali busy kupanga purge anthu mu MCP. Koma munkati ndi nkholokolo. Juliana Lunhuzi as popular as she is , she has been sidelined, lero mukufuna kumugwetsa. MCP chipani cha magazi. Mpaka muzalape zenizeni zeni osati za fake mwanza accident ikufinyani mpaka kalekale
Kupusa a Nancy nthawi yonseyi simumadziwa kuti amawina ndi mmodzi, imani independent yo tione ngati mungazawine. Mwakanika pa ma primaries ndiye mukuganiza zozawina pa chitsankho 2019 kkkkkkk
I will vote for you keep it up Nancy.
mudakangosiya athu oti munaluza mkale ndi viachi aaarg
Nabanda is very popular in that constituency. She will win, I bet. Having experienced the leadership of three different MPs past 10 years, people can see kuti Nabanda was the best MP in her time.