By Burnett Munthali | 8 July 2025
Tensions ran high in the Mzuzu High Court on Tuesday as the Mumba vs MCP case entered another dramatic phase, marked by sharp exchanges and courtroom theatrics during cross-examination.
As proceedings resumed, Counsel Gift Chimowa took the floor with pointed questions aimed at discrediting Trade Minister Vitumbiko Mumba’s challenge to the party’s May 11 primaries in Mzimba Central.
Chimowa questioned why Mumba’s initial protest letter to the party failed to suggest a preferred voting method.
He argued that in volatile or violent political environments, the method of queuing behind candidates has often been adopted to maintain order.
But Mumba stood firm in his response, drawing applause and cheers from his supporters in the packed courtroom.
He asserted that the Malawi Congress Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) had already resolved that all constituencies were to use a secret ballot system during primaries.
The response further galvanized his legal position, emphasizing a breach of official party guidelines.
The legal tension escalated when another defence lawyer, Henry Debwe, stepped in to challenge Mumba’s knowledge of internal party matters, including how he obtained information regarding the primaries.
This prompted an immediate objection from Mumba’s lead counsel, Khumbo Soko, who argued that Debwe’s line of questioning was irrelevant to the core of the case.
Justice Kishindo sustained the objection, ruling in favour of Soko, and subsequently allowed him to begin his re-examination of Mumba.
As the case progresses, it continues to draw widespread attention, both in the courtroom and beyond, for its potential impact on internal party governance and democratic processes within the MCP.
Observers say the case may set a legal precedent in how political parties handle internal electoral disputes, especially as the 2025 General Elections approach.
