‘Aford’ suing Chihana over convention

The ‘Alliance for Democracy (Aford)’ under the leadership of Godfrey Shawa says it is dragging to court ‘Aford’ under the leadership of Minister of Youth, and Sports Development Enoch Chihana for disrupting the convention and holding elections.

Aford embarked on a joint convention with People’s Democratic Movement (PDM), National Patriotic Front (NPF) and National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) to effectively prepare for 2014 elections, but the convention turned into a battle ground for the parties on Friday.

Chihana sparked the fight as he challenged the eligibility of Narc members, especially its president Loveness Gondwe, to contest as Aford president when her party was not dissolved.

The fight forced Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) which was to facilitate the voting to cancel the elections until the parties get organised.

However, Chihana’s camp on Saturday proceeded with the elections, with an independent body headed by CCAP Synod of Livingstonia Church and Society Programme director Moses Mkandawire facilitating the elections instead of MEC. The body largely comprised journalists.

Chihana emerged president and surprisingly, names of leaders in Shawa camp appeared on ballot papers and they lost miserably.

Speaking in an interview on Sunday, ‘Aford’ spokesperson Dan Msowoya said: “Taking Chihana to court is the only option. This whole election was unconstitutional. How did our names appear on their ballot papers? And how did they conduct elections without MEC?”

However, Chihana said his camp was the legitimate Aford.

“Just because they boycotted the convention, they expected the delegates who are the owners of the party to go home?” he said

MEC chief elections officer Willie Kalonga said the commission will facilitate the elections after the parties resolve their differences.