High Court rules out any chance of convention in MCP

The Lilongwe high court has rejected an application made by pressure group in the opposition Malawi Congress Party- MCP for the party to hold convention due to amid disagreements with the current leadership.

Some MCP officials—including district chairpersons and committee members—dragged the party to court, demanding an emergency convention asserting serious irregularities over how Chakwera runs the party and appointed some national executive committee (NEC) members.

But the court which earlier dismissed an injunction stopping the elections of office bearers, ruled that after new position holders in the party Lackson Khamalatha and  26 others who filed  to add new applicants to the case, has their application rejected.

In determination, high court judge senior deputy registrar Justus Kishindo said it was not in dispute that the 27 district chairpersons led by Lackson Khalamatha filed using their posts applying to be added to the case.

“It is not in dispute that only district chairpersons can call for a convention in MCP,” pointed out Kishindo in his ruling, citing party constitution.

He said now that the petitioners are no longer district chairpersons, “they have lost their stand and the application cannot stand.”

MCP deputy secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka welcomed the ruling.