UTM postpones convention

The United Transformation Movement (UTM) has postponed its national convention slated for November 9 2018, citing a breach of procedure in announcing it.

The movement issued a statement yesterday announcing the postponement of the convention citing the absence of a special committee to organise it.

UTM spokesperson Joseph Chidanti Malunga said in an interview the announcement was not in tandem with their constitution which states that the convention should first be announced to members 21 days before the public announcement.

He said: “We were also supposed to have a special committee to organise the convention, so we have appointed that committee which will decide on the days and the positions to be contested.”

Malunga dismissed reports that the cancellation is a result of lack of funding or delays in registration of the movement as a party.

The High Court is yet to make a determination on the appeal for registration after the Registrar of Political Parties refused to grant it on the basis of misleading information on the name of the party.

Said Malunga: “It’s not funding and registration. We were just trying to put things in order according to our constitution.”

Since UTM was formed in July this year, this convention will be the first to put in place a constitution and party structures.

Vice-President Saulos Chilima, who is also leader of the movement, told British Broadcasting Corporation programme Hard Talk a fortnight ago that all positions, including the interim one he holds, would be up for contest.

With only a few months to go before submission of nomination papers, UTM is running against time as it is yet to hold a convention following which primary elections will be conducted.

Malawi Electoral Commission director of communications Sangwani Mwafulirwa said any party can participate in the elections if it is registered by the time the call of nominations is made.