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The MCP extraordinary convention has been shifted from May 29 to July 12, 2003, national executive member Steve Ching’ang’a said Wednesday.
Ching’ang’a said that the extraordinary meeting has been carried forward to allow time for fund-raising and other organisational arrangements.
“We want everything to be in place first,” said Ching’ang’a. “Organisation of finances is one issue.”
He did not disclose how much the party is looking for to organise the meeting where 700 delegates are expected from across the country.
A two-day convention in Blantyre last month, which ended in violence, cost around K6 million. However, for three days delegates were not fed, among other logistical shortfalls.
Ching’ang’a said the convention will take place at the Natural Resources College, some 10 kilometres west of Lilongwe city centre off the Mchinji road.
He said that the college venue has been chosen as the most ideal place in terms of security and accommodation.
“The college is very convenient because it is very secure. It is also ideal because there are lots of rooms where our delegates will be accommodated,” said Ching’ang’a.
During the last convention held at Motel Paradise in Blantyre, which claimed 15 casualties from the bloody violence which broke out after John Tembo was declared winner of the presidential race, a number of delegates complained of sleeping on verandahs of congested class rooms provided for accommodation.
Some officials who slept at the motel were sharing rooms in twos, threes and even fours.
Closing the convention prematurely last month, Tembo said another convention would be held to finish elections of the executive committee.
Only three people, Tembo, Gwanda Chakuamba and Peter Chiwona, were in that order elected as president, first vice president and second vice president.
He said that the break was necessary to allow delegates recover from the mayhem and also afford a chance to some of them who had left the convention earlier due to the violence to participate in the elections.
Administrative Secretary Jodder Kanjere said last week that to ensure security at the convention, adequate police personnel will cover convention.
He said endorsement of the party’s presidential candidate and running mate for next year’s general elections will also be part of the agenda.
Meanwhile former Treasurer General Hetherwick Ntaba, who said earlier that he would not run for any position in the party after accusing Chakuamba of deploying thugs to intimidate his supporters from voting for him, said he will only attend the convention if the truth about the violence is known.
Tembo, who promised some three weeks ago in Lilongwe that Ntaba’s concerns would be sorted out in two weeks time, could not be reached Wednesday.
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