Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, who is vying for the position of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) first deputy president, launched his manifesto yesterday in Mzuzu with proposals to change the party ’s constitution.
Among others, the new kid on the block wants the party’s national executive committee (NEC) to have its powers trimmed and that senior party members should not hold other public offices.
During the briefing, Mumba outl ined his seven-point plan which also includes introduction of veterans’ league, investment for the party and a stakeholder engagement strategy.
He said: “I will facilitate constitutional change to ensure that the NEC is dissolved during campaign period and only be called to deliberate on management issues, but shall not make substantive decisions.
“In addition, during their term, NEC members must not implement any proposal or changes to the constitution but can only recommend these to the convention. Once adopted, these changes can only be implemented after a particular convention.”
Mumba said he has fallen victim to some rules within the MCP, adding that some people who align with him were also being victimised by certain leaders who are abusing their power; hence, the need for the changes.
He also said there was need for an effective secretariat to ensure that NEC members are not given public offices.
Mumba is facing Speaker of the National Assembly Catherine Gotani Hara, Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma and former minister of Lands Kezzie Msukwa in the race for the position.
MCP North South Region chairperson Joseph Chavula lauded Mumba for his manaifesto, but urged all candidates to engage in a peaceful and constructive campaign.
In an interview, an expert in electoral and identity politics Ernest Thindwa urged MCP to make known the list of delegates in good time to avoid squabbles at the convention slated for August 8 to 10 2024.
“It is good for candidates to know beforehand who the delegates are. Due to some factors, some positions may be vacant for delegates, and that has to be known and if being filled, all candidates have to know,” he said.
MCP is a key partner in the initially nine-party Tonse Alliance that ascended to power in the June 2020 court-sanctioned fresh presidential election. Its other key partner, UTM Party announced two weeks ago its withdrawal from the electoral alliance whose pact was signed by President Lazarus Chakwera and Vice- President Saulos Chilima who died in a military plane crash alongside eight others on June 10 2024.
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