Court rules against MCP’s NEC on new criteria of contestants’ selection

High court in Lilongwe has ruled that Malawi Congress Party MCP executive Committee NEC has no mandate to create new eligibility criteria that bars other members to contest for leadership in the party.

The judgment has come after MCP member Eddie Banda applied to the court to quash the NEC decision.

Presenting the judgment Judge Howard Pemba said MCP NEC has no authority of passing eligibility criteria which contradict the constitution.

Reacting to the judgment, political analyst Victor Chipofya says political parties in Malawi should learn to respect Malawi constitution when conducting their businesses.

Speaking to radio Islam, Chipofya said “everyone has the freedom of association hence the MCP NEC decision was in violation of the Malawi constitution.”

However, the court judgment has been delivered when Malawi congress Party announced the approval of 204 applicants to contest at its convention

Chairperson of the convention Kezzie Msukwa said they received 224 applications but MCP management approved the 204 who met set conditions to contest

Msukwa said MCP president Lazarus Chakwera would go unopposed because the party already endorsed him to contest as presidential candidate in 2025 general elections

“The party has approved 6 people to contest on position of secretary general, 5 on first deputy president,  4 on treasurer general and 2 on second deputy president,” Msukwa.

One of the notable figures who have been left out of the race is Vitumbiko Mumba who showed interest to contest on position of first vice president and held a political rally in Mzuzu city few weeks ago

One of the convention committee members said budget for the meeting is pegged at close to 1 billion kwacha

However, political scientist Lateem Matenje described as undemocratic the tendency of parties of endorsing presidential candidates before holding the elective convention.

“It is not healthy for MCP to implement such a decision now as it will haunt the party in future,” says Matenje

On dropping Mumba, Matenje said the decision will impact the party negatively considering politics of regionalism that the country has been practicing.