The ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has maintained its earlier stand that new members joining that will not be allowed to contest in the elective conference scheduled for August this year.

MCP’s National Publicity Secretary Ezekiel Peter Ching’oma has said this in a statement released today made available to this publication.

According to Ching’oma, for anyone to be allowed to contest at the elective conference he/she must have been a member of MCP for two years.

“To be eligible for nomination to the National Executive Committee (NEC), a person must meet certain criteria. They must have been a member of Malawi Congress Party for a minimum of two years, demonstrating their commitment and dedication to the party’s value and goals, “reads part of the statement.

Many people have described the stand as a ploy by some MCP top officials to protect their seats in the National Executive Committee (NEC).

Some went further to claim that the decision is targeting Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba who is vying for the top post in the executive committee of the party.