Tag Archives: Eisenhower Mkaka

Politics

MCP wrangles: disgruntled district chairpersons accuse Sidik Mia of sowing division, back Kaliwo on convention

Maravi Post correspondent 1 Comment
Ameteur Treason Plotters
Kaliwo (L): backed on calls for early convention

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost) –The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) disgruntled regional and chairpersons,  on Saturday accused the business tycoon cum-politician Sidik Mia, of sowing seeds of division by bankrolling a parallel structure within the party.

The chairpersons said they have evidence that Mia has been meeting the MCP leadership, where money and materials, have exchanged hands. They claim this is aimed at formalizing the business tycoon’s status, but without consulting or informing party membership.

The disgruntled chairmen further stood their ground in support of MCP Secretary-General Gustavo Kaliwo, on the call for the convention. They said this would stabilize tensions that have rocked the Party.

The regional and district chairperson, drawn from over 24 districts, were reacting to the MCP Second Deputy SG  Mkaka, who last week said Kaliwo has no mandate to call for the convention.

They told journalists that Kaliwo remains the Party’s SG, and challenged that only the convention can remove him from the position.

The chairpersons however denounced Mkaka as the Party’s spokesperson, and his post does not exist in the MCP structures.

“Firstly, Mr. Mia must come out in the open to the entire MCP membership, that he is joining the Party; he should not just meet with the leadership and share money and gifts. This is total manipulating the Party’s constitution. That’s why we need the convention to stop the acts of not respecting MCP’s regulations.

“Mkaka’s post is not recognized in MCP structures, and for that reason, he cannot dismiss SG Kaliwo’s mandate. So, whether somebody wants or not, we are going to the convention on July 7-9, 2017, to settle the wrangles ahead of our come-back to government,” James Baza Kaunda said.

James Baza Kaunda is the MCP’s North-South Regional chairperson and was speaking on behalf of the group.

Last week MCP Secretary-General Kaliwo, called for the urgent convention, to resolve various concerns that are rocking Malawi’s oldest party. The convention is seen as a solution before the 2019 general elections.

The convention has therefore slated for July 7-9, 2017 for the venue to be communicated by the special committee that will be put in place.

Kaliwo’s call for the convention comes amid squabbles in the Party, for two years under President Lazarus Chakwera, who came into reign from John Tembo.

Addressing the news conference in Blantyre, Last week, Kaliwo, who was franked by his deputy Chatonda Kaunda, said the convention was called for by Party’s district and regional chairpersons to resolve various concerns.

Kaliwo, a legal practitioner by profession, told the reporters at the function, that the decision came after all avenues of discussing issues amicably, and internally yielded no results.

He said according to the powers vested in him, and with more than half of the Party’s chairpersons, it was proper to make the announcement of the convention. According to the SG, this would avoid things get out of hand ahead of 2019 general elections.

The MCP SG said that as the Party gatekeeper, it was wise and proper to listen to the demands for the convention as stipulated in the MCP Constitution.

He warned that he was ready to battle it out in court if someone tries to challenge the decision.

 

Politics

Police bars MCP supporters from welcoming their leader at KIA

Maravi Post correspondent
Lazarus Chakwera
Chakwera: accuses Police of barring his supporters from welcoming him

Armed police on Saturday, dispersed the main opposition, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) supporters from welcoming their President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera, at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe.

The MCP President was coming back from Singapore, where he had gone to attend the World Fellowship for Assemblies of God Annual General Conference.

MCP spokesperson Eisenhower Mkaka, confirmed the development.

According to Mkaka, the police forced the party supporters to welcome their leader outside the KIA premises. The police said they did this because the place is not used for conducting political rallies.

However, the MCP spokesperson described this as undemocratic.

Before entering politics in August 2013, Dr. Chakwera held the helm of the Malawi Assemblies of God as President from 1989 to 14 May 2013. Ft. Chakwera became the MCP president in August 2013 and won a seat in parliament during the tripartite elections in July 2014.

Political analysts have decried the police action, citing that in a democracy, police are supposed to be apolitical and treat all political parties fairly, without fear or favor.

 

District News

Government spokesperson says MCP leadership is still undemocratic

Maravi Post correspondent
Nicholas Dausi
Malawi Information Minister Nicholas Dausi

Government spokesperson Nicholas Dausi, who is also minister of Information, has said the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leadership, remains undemocratic despite having new blood.

Dausi said this on Sunday night during a live program ‘the views triangle’ that airs on Zodiack radio station.

Speaking during the program titled ‘why Malawi political parties fail to fulfill their promises made on their manifestos when get into power,’ Dausi said the MCP is prone to that since its leadership is undemocratic.

“As DPP, we have fulfilled almost all of the promises we make in our manifesto within two years being in government. This is the first time in the history of Malawi,” Dausi said.

When asked why the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is failing to reduce the power of the President as promised Malawians during the campaign period, Dausi said “we have already done that.”

However MCP spokesperson Eisenhower Mkaka, said Dausi does not know what he was talking about.

“It was DPP legislatures who denied to reduce the power of the President when the issue was brought in the Parliament. So if Dausi says the ruling DPP has already reduced the Presidential power, then he don’t know what he is saying,” Mkaka said

Mkaka promised Malawians that his party will reduce the power of the President when voted into power

In the 2010 tripartite elections.

This did not go well with Dausi, who questioned Mkaka to explain how and why should Malawians believe the MCP.

“Mkaka is deceiving Malawians; there is no way the MCP can reduce the power of its President. Look at the way the MCP President is firing and hiring his shadow cabinet; what more if he became  the leader of this country!” Dausi asked.

Political specialist Dr. Boniface Dulani said most of the political parties in the country fail to keep their promises when given power.

He said the parties use the manifestos just to attract voters.

 

Politics

Chakwera’s bodyguards spend hours in cooler

Maravi Post correspondent
Lazarus Chakwera: his bodyguards spent hours in police custody on Thursday

Two bodyguards of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Dr Lazarus Chakwera were on Thursday arrested by the police in suspicion that they were keeping guns without permission.

According to the acting MCP spokesperson Eisenhower Mkaka the arrest came after the police searched the houses of the two.

He said about 20 armed police invaded the houses of the two Chakwera’s bodyguards without a notice and search warrant.

“The police started their search in the morning and finished in the evening hours. After the search, they took the two to the police headquarters at area 30,” said Mkaka. Continue reading Chakwera’s bodyguards spend hours in cooler →

Politics

Lazarus Chakwera points an accusatory finger at the DPP after a failed robbery at his Mansion

Lloyd M’bwana
Lazarus Chakwera
Embattled MCP Leader Lazarus Chakwera

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost): Embattled President of the Malawi Congress Party, Lazarous Chakwera, claims to have survived an assassination attempt on his life after armed thugs tried to break into his Mansion at Area 9 on Tuesday’ night in the capital Lilongwe.

Malawi Media reports claim the so called thugs met fierce resistance from Chakwera’s security guards and were forced to retreat after a heavy exchange of fire. Continue reading Lazarus Chakwera points an accusatory finger at the DPP after a failed robbery at his Mansion →

Politics, Top News

Malawi Congress Party demands immediate release of funds for Mchinji West by-election

Maravi Post correspondent
From-right-to-left-Maxwell-Thyolera-Eisenhower-Mkaka-and-Alekeni-Menyani-MCP’s-Director-of-Elections-Deputy-Secretary-General-and-Public-Relations-respectively
From-right-to-left-Maxwell-Thyolera-Eisenhower-Mkaka-and-Alekeni-Menyani-MCP’s-Director-of-Elections-Deputy-Secretary-General-and-Public-Relations-respectively

LILONGWE (Maravi Post)–The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has asked the treasury to release funds meant for conducting by-election in Mchinji west constituency saying further delays in conducting the election is tantamount to violation of people’s rights to representation.

The demand comes barely 60 days after the constituency fell vacant following the death of MCP Lawmaker Billy Kanjira Banda. The country’s electoral laws are very clear that if the constituency is vacant, by-elections must be held within 60 days.

Few weeks after the death of the late MP Kanjira Banda, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) released a draft calendar of events for the constituency’s by-election but the public was amazed with reports that the electoral body had no funds which the treasury refused arguing that MEC did not submit financial plan towards the exercise.

Meantime, Treasury and MEC are blaming each other over the availability of funds to hold the by-election  prompting other quarters of the society to question government commitment towards promotion of democracy.

Addressing a news conference on Friday in the capital Lilongwe; Maxwell Thyolera, Eisenhower Mkaka and Alekeni Menyani; MCP’s Director of Elections, Deputy Secretary General and Public Relations Officer respectively questioned the wisdom behind the delay in conducting the said by-election despite funds availability.

The party accused the treasury of conniving with the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to play delay tactics saying that DPP is not ready for the exercise hence giving unjustifiable reasons for the delay.

“This is violation of the country’s constitution of electoral laws and people of Mchinji west constituency’s right to representation. The area needs someone who can initiate development projects through Community Development Fund (CDF) and Local Development Fund (LDF). A Member of Parliament (MP) is important to a constituency as they sign cheques for cashing funds especially on CDF. Therefore their absence for a long time is tantamount to holding people to a ransom for development.

“What has come to our knowledge is that DPP is not ready for the elections as its failing to feature a candidate as many they approached happen to be our members and they refused to take such gamble knowing that the area is for MCP. Unfortunately, the treasury has been trapped into the cage of violating the electoral laws,” observed Thyolera.

Echoing on the same, Mkaka hinted that the party would push for the release of the funds to hold the by-election by using all avenues until the matter was dealt with decisively but failed to disclose what further actions the party will take if treasury continue to play delaying tactics in releasing the funds.

Menyani added that the party was ready to participate in the elections following successful MCP primary elections held last month where a retired secondary school head teacher, Jephter Mwale beat the party’s big guns and former legislators including Theresa Mwale and Henry Fwataki.

Through the same press conference, MCP announced plans to conduct district elections in its six regional committees as party of party building process a head of 2019 tripartite elections which is slated for May 28, 2016 starting with central and lakeshore regions.

There was no immediate reaction from Ministry of Finance’s Spokesperson, Nations Msowoya and MEC’s Director of Public Relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa.