By Jameson Chauluka
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he People’s Party (PP) will tomorrow hold an elective conference in Blantyre where the party’s leader, Joyce Banda, will be challenged by Leonard Mphidza for the party’s top job
Mphidza is the party’s Deputy Secretary for the Southern Province but he doesn’t pose a major threat to the former Head of State.
“All the preparations have been completed. We are having our indaba tomorrow [today]. We are expecting over one thousand delegates some of them have already started from their homes,” said Noah Chimpeni, the party spokesperson.
Banda, Malawi’s first female president, lost elections to Peter Mutharika in 2014. Facing allegations of abuse of office and money laundering, which she denied, she left the country, and came back in April this year.
Banda was living in the United States, serving as a distinguished fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center and the Center for Global Development in Washington DC
Last July, police issued an arrest warrant against Banda, saying her alleged offences were part of Cashgate. But early this year, the Anti-Corruption Bureau said it had no solid evidence against her, partly clearing her of wrongdoing.
PP held its last elective conference in 2013 which ushered in Joyce Banda as its leader.
The party’s spokesperson, Noah Chimpeni, did not have a full list of candidates but maintained all was set for the indaba.
Chimpeni said the play field is level in the party for all the candidates to sell their manifestoes to delegates freely.
Mphidza said, when elected party president, he would promote equitable distribution of positions.
“What we differ is that Dr. Joyce Banda does not believe in equitable distribution of positions in the party. She leaves the positions open for people to compete anyhow but I will ensure that every district has a position in the party,” he said.
Main opposition Malawi Congress was the first to hold a convention followed by ruling Democratic Progressive Party and United Democratic Front.
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