MCP hopefuls in the dark

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) aspirants to national executive committee (NEC) positions, notably the presidency, are yet to be communicated to on their eligibility close to two months after submitting their nomination papers.

MCP has since said short-listing of candidates for various positions is yet to be done and cautioned that those campaigning secretly would end up wasting their money.

A number of prominent people, including recently retired Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo and former president of the Assemblies of God in Malawi, the Reverend Lazarus Chakwera, have declared their interest to contest the MCP presidency.

Others are former Cabinet minister Jodder Kanjere, former Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) president Felix Jumbe, former MCP secretary general Betson Majoni, former MCP director of political affairs Eston Kakhome and estranged secretary general Chris Daza.

However, MCP stunned the public when it released eligibility criteria which included one stating that aspirants should be those with a working experience within the party of at least five years.

In an interview on Wednesday, Chakwera said he was in the dark about his eligibility as the party has been silent.

MCP administrative secretary Potiphar Chidaya has told Nation Online the date for the convention has not yet been set as people are busy with Parliament.

On the guidelines, Chidaya insisted that the requirement for one to have experience in the party of about five years still stands.