In a display of political maneuvering, Malawi’s Finance Minister, Simplex Chithyola Banda, and MCP heavyweight Ken Zikhale Ng’oma have reportedly doled out a combined staggering K76.5 million to potential delegates in the North-South Region, ahead of the highly anticipated Malawi Congress Party (MCP) elective convention scheduled for August this year.
The events unfolded on Wednesday evening in Mzuzu, where Chithyola, who is vying for the coveted position of MCP Secretary General, disbursed K200,000 each to 153 delegates, amounting to a total of K30.6 million. Hot on his heels, Zikhale Ng’oma, a contender for the Deputy President role, followed suit by offering K300,000 to the same 153 delegates, totaling a staggering K45.9 million.
The intensity of the financial outreach underscores the high stakes involved, as the MCP stewards seek to position themselves for the upcoming leadership contest. Despite the lavish displays of financial largesse, a number of delegates expressed skepticism about the ultimate success of both Chithyola and Zikhale Ng’oma in their respective bids. As one group of seven delegates, who wished to remain anonymous, aptly remarked, “This is the time to receive money. There is no other time to receive generous money than this period. One thing we don’t do is betraying our party.”
The political landscape appears to be tilting in favor of some incumbents, as a recent Snapchat survey conducted within the delegate community suggests that the positions of MCP President and Secretary General are likely to be retained by the current office holders, Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and Eisenhower Nduwa Mkaka, respectively.
The race for the Deputy President role, on the other hand, seems to be shaping up as a contest between Zikhale Ng’oma and the youthful contender, Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba. In this closely watched battle, the odds appear to be favoring the ascendance of Mumba, as the delegate community seems poised to embrace the fresh perspective and energy that Mumba has so far broiught to the table.
This high-stakes courting of delegates underscores the fiercely competitive nature and democratic seniority of the Malawi Congress Party where ultimate unity appears to remain intact. The Shire Times senior political commentator Joseph Masina has intimated that “as the MCP party gears up for a pivotal convention that could have far-reaching implications for the country’s political future”.
