MCP convention in Limbo

Chances are high that the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) will postpone its highly anticipated convention scheduled for next month following a High Court decision to reserve its ruling on whether to lift an injunction obtained by the party Secretary General Gustav Kaliwo.

Earlier this month, Kaliwo together with the Party Vice President Richard Msowoya, Jessie Kabwila and Tonny Kandiero obtained an injunction restraining the Party from implementing the resolutions made by the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to fire and suspend them.

The injunction also stopped the Party from holding the convention scheduled for April 4-7 2018 at Mary Mount Secondary School in Mzuzu.

But Chakwera through his lawyers, Robert Nthewa and Charles Mhone challenged the injunction.

The two asked the court to discharge the injunction “in the interest of justice” as the Msowoya faction did not exhaust internal mechanism within the party as stipulated in article 65 of the MCP constitution.

Lawyer for embattled MCP secretary general Gustav Kaliwo, Kalekeni Kaphale told the court the MCP Executive acted against party constitution in calling for the convention.

Judge Jack N’riva after hearing submissions from both parties, on a Tuesday adjourned the matter to an unspecified date when he will deliver his ruling.

Meanwhile the party is yet to make a statement regarding the convention.