War within: MCP officials want John Tembo back as party leader

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John Tembo
Lazarus Chakwera
Chakwera ‘not wanted’.

A group of suspended Malawi Congress Party (MCP) regional and district chairpersons who on Monday had their case against party president Lazarus Chakwera dismissed by the courts say they will fight hard to make sure John Tembo comes back as MCP president.

The chairpersons have been accusing Chakwera of failing to run the party citing the numerous squabbles that are happening in the party. The chairmen also took the MCP to court to protest Chakwera’s decision to make changes in the MCP national executive committee (NEC).

But on Monday Judge Charles Mkandawire dismissed the case because lawyers for the chairpersons arrived fifteen minutes late for the court session.

But after the dismissal of the case, the district and regional chairpersons said they will continue pushing for change in party leadership in order to have Tembo back.

John Tembo
John Tembo; Wanted again.

Former MCP regional chairman for the south, Mr Nanthumba said they want Tembo back because during his time there was peace and he run the party as a unit.

His remarks were echoed by Chairperson for Dedza Lakeshore district Lackson Khamalatha who called on Chakwera to resign.

“We are told that the chairmen who voted Chakwera during the convention are old and not fit then we are saying that Chakwera was also illegally voted into the office, we are therefore asking Chakwera to give back the position to Tembo so that we can start afresh,” said Khamalatha.

The chairpersons also expressed dissatisfaction over the way the court handled the case.

Chairman Hassan Mwale from Ntchisi said there is need for equal justice on the case in the sense that he feels the court is favouring the party.

”We are baffled that the case has been dismissed and I think the court is favouring the party,” said Mwale.

Following the dismissal of the case, MCP announced that it will conduct regional and district elections in order to have new chairpersons.