United Democratic Front (UDF) has rejected nomination papers for nine candidates who were vying for different positions at its national elective conference.
UDF will today hold its national indaba at Comesa Hall in Blantyre.
However, a vetting process for nomination papers has rejected nine individuals.
Notable faces who have been barred include Ken Ndanga who wanted to contest as secretary general.
A statement signed by convention chairperson Aisha Mambo Adams indicated that an independent body that was established to review the nominations found that Ndanga had been unsuccessful.
“Pre-existing disciplinary measures resulted in the candidate being asked to step aside from a senior NWC position,” the statement said, citing a court case that the party member is currently answering.
The party has also blocked Raheem Elias who wanted to contest as first vice president.
The statement said there was inadequate proof that Elias has been a member of the party.
Ibrahim Swankie, who wanted to contest for a position of second vice president, has been rejected because of “no proven continuous membership”.
Others are Genarino Lemani and Akidu Banda who were all vying for the secretary general position, Grant Ndecha and Dyson Jangiya who wanted to contest for publicity secretary position and Ian Kumpita who eyed national director of legal affairs.
However, Elias has since appealed the decision.
In a letter to Adams, Elias through a law firm challenged the decision to bar him saying he has been a party member as he has served the party in different positions for several years.
“It should be noted that some delegates do not have membership cards and yet they will be allowed to vote during the party’s National Elective Conference.
“It is vital that the party should produce to our client the membership register so that he may verify that every candidate and delegate that has been allowed to participate at the National Elective Conference has been paying membership fees continuously for the past five years,” the letter reads.
About 1,200 delegates are expected to make it to the convention which has been budgeted at over K100 million.
Former party president Atupele Muluzi is expected to go unopposed after the party’s current leader Lilian Patel announced that she would not seek re-election at the indaba.
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