By Chisomo Phiri
The High Court in Lilongwe has restrained a self-styled Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Veteran Management Committee from suspending the party’s Secretary General(SG), Richard Chiwendo Banda, or closing his office.
Justice William Yakuwawa Msiska granted the injunction on Wednesday following an application by the MCP, through its legal director, George Kadzipatike, who argued that the group has no legal authority under the party’s Constitution to suspend a duly elected Secretary General.
The case follows an incident last Tuesday when members of the group allegedly attempted to seal Chiwendo Banda’s office, accusing him of contributing to the party’s defeat in the 2025 general elections, in which MCP president Lazarus Chakwera conceded defeat to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader Peter Mutharika.
Under the order, the 10 defendants, their agents and anyone acting on their behalf are restrained from interfering with the affairs of the MCP headquarters or exercising disciplinary powers to remove, suspend or dismiss members of the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The group has also been barred from interfering with the constitutional duties of NEC members, including the SG, as well as closing, locking or barricading party premises or exercising powers reserved for the NEC or the party’s Convention.
The defendants are William Phakamisa, Frank Chatanga, Dyson Simsamala, Jaji Banda, Mizeck Masula, Eliya Kadula, Ernest Soko, Chaponda Chizwa, Mai Kanyemba and Dzeke Dzeke.
