New party wants to settle wrangle out of court

Before a newly-formed United Transformation Party (UTP) hit the ground running, the new baby found itself in court after a section of its top gurus blocked an interim president from attaining such status.

But the matter may soon be taken out of court, both sides confirmed on Saturday.

Following the formation of the new party, former Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Newton Kambala was unveiled as the party’s interim president, but before the nation learnt of what the party stands for, people were discussing how it found itself in court after its conception.

But Kambala in an interview yesterday, said it was a mere misunderstanding associated with different groups in their formative stages. Kambala said he was happy that a section of members that took the matter to court and obtained an injunction to stop him from occupying the position of an interim president, were contemplating to have the matter withdrawn from the High Court in Blantyre.

“It was a small matter and not worth the dispute. It is not good to wash dirty linen in public. But I am happy we have realised our mistake quickly and very soon we will have the matter resolved out of court.

I was surprised they rushed to court. We are talking and we are still together. We are not selfish leaders hungry for power. You must know I did not nominate myself to this position, members did,” Kambala said.

Kambala said such disputes distract any group from achieving their goals, and in the case of the new party, it would have distracted them from fulfilling their mission to serve the people of Malawi better.

He hinted that what he was doing was necessity and not a profession, adding if members of UTP want him to serve in that position as president, he would accept to take up the challenge.

Lawyer Edwin Banda, who is representing the new party in the court, confirmed there were considerations to resolve the matter as an inhouse thing.

Banda said: “This is one party; if we can sort it out of the court, the better. It is a small issue here which can be resolved amicably if we sit down. Already, there is common ground and I see the issue being resolved.

“We  a r e  d i f f e r i n g  o n interpretation of the party’s constitution which does not provide the provision of an interim president, and the other section was arguing that they did not receive a copy of the constitution.”

Notable names in this new party of old politicians include Ian Kanyuka, Eunice Makangala and Moses Kunkuyu.