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(NYASATIMES) MCP concedes, urges Tembo to resign

MCP concedes, urges Tembo to resign
Font size: Thom Chiumia 22 May, 2009 09:53:00

Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has conceded defeat in the general elections and congratulated President Ngwazi Dr Bingu wa Mutharika for securing a second term of office. The party has meanwhile demanded resignation of its president John Tembo.

The call has been made in a statement issued by MCP spokesman Ishmael Chafukila and made available to Nyasa Times by the party UK chair, Chris Banda.

“In a multiparty dispensation, people should be proud to belong to a party of their choice, we, as members of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) are proud to be so. Today we feel duty bound on behalf a large number of MCP members and supporters ....to speak out and take leadership at this challenging time for the party and in order to start the process and journey for MCP to find its feet again and over the time to seek a renewed direction,” the statement said.

The statement said on behalf of MCP members and supporters, the party concedes defeat in the election and congratulate the President Mutharika and his entire party for their deserved victory.

MCP pledged to work with the Mutharika administration in developing the country and called for new leadership within its ranks.

“It is the wish of MCP members and supporters that the MCP and a new leadership must work closely with the president and his government, in a non antagonistic manner to advance the economic and social aspirations of Malawians,” said the statement issued by Banda and Chafukila.

The party said t the decision to challenge the results of the election is the wish of Tembo as an individual and not that of the entire party.

“The position of the party is that we wish to move on and rebuild our party with new leadership that fully embraces the tenets of democracy. All well wishing supporters of MCP should not allow Hon JZU Tembo to take down the MCP and deny it its rightful place in the multiparty dispensation that our country cannot effort to backtrack from,” said the statement.

“It is within his right as an individual and presidential candidate in the just ended elections to take grievances, but he should not translate that to be the position of the Malawi Congress Party and its members.

“He should not derail our recovery as a party. He must challenge the results outside the party in a court of law. He should allow the party to reconcile with its members who have spoken through this election that they do not wish to be taken for granted,” said the statement.

The party urged Tembo, 77 to let the party go and flourish and asked him to humbly resign.

“We are now making a call on Hon JZU Tembo to step aside and allow our party to move on. We have many talented Members of the Malawi Congress Party who are ready to take on the challenge of rebuilding the party. For me that process must start now,” said the statement.

“ He should do the honorable thing and step down as the leader of the party and Member of Parliament for Dedza South, He should allow a by election on that constituency and we can assure him that MCP will win back that seat with a landslide on its way to full recovery,” said the statement.

Tembo lost the election to Mutharika and has claimed it was fraudulent. He plans to challenge the results in court.

Labels: ELECTIONS, ISHMAEL CHAFUKILA, JOHN TEMBO, MALAWI, MCP

posted by MrK @ 4:23 PM