MCP, DPP Hold Convetion
The lines for the journey to the 2025 Tripartite Elections look bold and conspicuous with the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), conduct their conventions in Lilongwe and Blantyre respectively.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) was the first to hold its elective convention from 8-10 August at Bingu International
Conference Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, where they staged an open space for members to battle out for various positions.
Various positions were up for grabs except for the positions of the party’s president and director of recruitment, where President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and Madalitso Kazombo went unopposed respectively.
The party called its members to contest in various positions, which included the positions of deputy president, secretary general, publicity secretary, director of legal affairs, treasurer general, director of economic affairs, director of public relations, director of women affairs, and director of youth.
MCP convention was characterized by stiff competition, battle of superiority, so to speak, especially positions of the vice president and secretary general which saw the big names such as ministers toiling for them.
For instance, the position of the party’s vice president attracted 8 individuals, including Speaker of Parliament
Catherine Gotani Hara, who eventually emerged winner after amassing 648 votes, beating Engineer Vitumbiko
Mumba, who came second with 313 votes, as Ahmad Dasu came third with 168 votes.
Catherine Gotani Hara therefore set up a big history for becoming the first woman to take up the position of vice
president for the party. There was also a big battle on the position of the party’s secretary general, where the Minister of Local Government Richard Chimwendo Banda emerged winner with 670 votes, beating other popular individuals such as Minister of Finance Symplex Chithyola Banda who came second with 529 votes. Elsenhower Mkaka, who was holding the position, came third with 61 votes.
In other positions, Jessie Kabwila got elected as publicity secretary with 857 votes, George Kadzipatike won the
position of director of legal affairs with 974 votes, John Paul became treasurer general with 704 votes, Henry Mumba became director of economic affairs with 806 votes, Sam Kawale became director of public relations with 746 votes, and Steve Malondera became director of youth with 523 votes.
One of the country’s social commentators, Latimu Matenje, was quoted with Television Islam, describing the MCP elective convention as free and fair. Matenje concurred with the statement that was raised by the party’s president,
Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, who warned party members against the practice of handouts to voters, saying such a
tendency is against the electoral laws.
Just within a space of a week, the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took its turn to put together
its members for the elective convention at COMESA Hall in Blantyre from 17- 19 August in order to elect leaders in
various positions ahead of the next year’s Tripartite Elections.
Just like the MCP convention, the position of the president of the DPP went unopposed to the party’s incumbent president Peter Mutharika, facing no challenger.
DPP opened the way for its members to challenge each other for other positions, including the position of the
party’s vice president for the Southern region, Central region, Eastern region, and Northern region. The party
members also fought for the position of the secretary general, director of women, treasurer general, director of
youth.
The DPP convention finally produced the new crop of top officials, where the position of vice president for the
Southern region was taken by Joseph Mwanamveka; Alfred Gangata is the vice president for the Central region,
Bright Msaka is the vice president for the Eastern region, and Jappie Muhango becomes the vice president for the Northern region.
In other positions, Peter Mukhito won the position of the secretary general, Mary Navicha won the position of
director of women, Norman Chisale is now the party’s director of youth.
During the DPP convention, the party’s president Peter Mutharika hinted of a possible electoral alliance with other
political parties likely to include UTM, UDF and AFORD.
