Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has announced that it will hold its convention for three days from April 27 to 29 this year.

MCP president John Tembo on Sunday told a rally at Chadza court in Lilongwe Msinja North that the convention will run from April 27 to 29 April 2013.

“This meeting is in preparation of our convention. Some people were calling for a convention, but that is not their mandate. Without me, there is no convention. I am therefore announcing that our convention will be held from 27 to 29 April this year,” Tembo said.

He said the convention will possibly be held in Lilongwe.

The MCP leader said he will not bar anyone from contesting on the position of the party’s president and presidential candidate in next year’s elections.

“I will not stop anyone from contesting on the position of party president and presidential candidate. Do your campaign properly to get the position.

“If you do well, people will elect you. But if you are not elected, and people say they want the old man again, I will accept,” said Tembo, amid ululation and whistling from the crowd that gathered.

Earlier, one of the party’s MPs Vitus Dzoole Mwale told the crowd that the party members are prepared to change the constitution to allow Tembo stand.

“Representatives from the north and south are saying they will vote for you at the convention. Don’t worry about the Constitution. It’s people who made it. We will change it. We will rally behind you,” Dzoole Mwale said.

Apart from the party’s MP s , other noble people present the meeting were former Speaker of Parliament Louis Chimango, former minister in MCP regime Jodder Kanjere, regional chairman for the centre Hilda Manjamkhosi and veteran member Rosemary Dinala.