Malawi road to 2014: John Tembo to contest for MCP Presidency at the convention

Opposition Malawi Congress Party’s President and veteran politician John Tembo has come in the open declaring that he will contest as president of the party at the party’s indaba slated for 28

Speaking in an exclusive interview on Zodiak radio few minutes ago, Tembo openly said “I will fill the forms” for the MCP Presidency. Asked if he was not afraid of other contestants like Secretary General Chris Daza, Felix Jumbe and Rev. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, Tembo said he was not, adding that he welcomes them all describing that as “democracy.”

However, it is yet to be seen if Chakwera and Chris Daza will indeed be allowed to contest because according to the Daily Times, the party’s governing committee proposed that aspiring office bearers in the party should be individuals with a “minimum five years membership and that any member of the party should be allowed to be president as many times as they can as long as they get elected at a legitimate convention.”

This move is seen as a deliberate ploy to bar the head of Malawi Assemblies of God Rev. Dr. Lazarus Chakwera who expressed interest to run for the party’s presidency while on the other hand accommodating current leader John Tembo who is barred from contesting again for the same party position.

The party’s constitution allows MCP president to contest only for two terms on the party’s ticket as a presidential candidate in general elections; as such Tembo could not be allowed to contest for the party’s presidency once more as he vied for country’s presidency on the party’s ticket in 2004 and 2009 general elections respectively.

The proposal is also seem as targeting some top members including the current Secretary General Chris Daza who has been at loggerheads with Tembo.

However, the party’s Director of Elections, Joseph Jobvuyalema, said members including Chakwera are free to submit their nomination forms so long “if they believe that they are eligible to contest for any position at the convention.”

But MCP Administrative Secretary Potipher Chidaya argued that the proposed amendments are “in no way meant to accommodate Tembo.”

Chidaya further claims that the proposed amendments are aimed at making MCP match with changing times.

“They are proposals which will either be confirmed or rejected by the convention,” he said.