Mwenifumbo to challenge Chihana at convention

Karonga Central member of Parliament (MP) Frank Mwenifumbo has expressed interest to contest for Alliance for Democracy (Aford) presidency against Enock Chihana at the forth coming party’s convention.

Mwenifumbo made the declarations on Thursday in Lilongwe at a meeting which was attended by about 300 members of the party including the party’s district chairmen from the central region and some members of the National Executive Committee (NEC).

He said: “I hereby humbly announce that I have accepted the request to contest as party president in the forthcoming elective national convention in response to the overwhelming request from members of Aford.”

The party’s convention was initially scheduled for December 16, before it was rescheduled to April next year due to lack of funds, according to Chihana.

However, Mwenifumbo has protested against changing the date to next year arguing NEC was not consulted on this and that changing the date will go against the plans and preparations of the 2019 tripartite elections.

Mwenifumbo has since denied allegations that he is only fighting for the party’s leadership to sell it to the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) afterwards, saying these are mere allegations.

He said: “I don’t know what it means by selling a party. I was not there when twice Aford made an alliance with United Democratic Front (UDF) and I was not there when Aford aligned itself with the Malawi Congress Party (MCP). I wasn’t there in recent times when Aford decided not to field a presidential candidate and ask all members of the party to vote for People’s Party’s candidate (PP).  Those who did are the ones to be called culprits and not me! I love the party and I want to rebuild it.”

In his reaction, the current president who is also Rumphi Central MP, Chihana, said there is nothing wrong with Mwenifumbo contesting for the party’s presidency, saying he has the right to do so in a democratic world.

However, Chihana has maintained that the convention will take place in April next year and not in December.

He said: “Mwenifumbo does not know the dates of the convention because he is not the president,  I am the president and when I speak it means the party has spoken so Malawians should take it from me that the convention is in April next year.”