[Civsoc-mw] TODAY: Orton Chirwa Handed Over MCP Presidency

[Paliani]

Today, the 5th of April in 1960, is a day when Orton Chirwa handed over the Presidency of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to Dr. Banda. The ceremony took place at Orton Chirwa’s residence in Limbe.

Orton Chirwa’s speech during the hand over ceremony clearly showed that he had worked very hard to facilitate the establishment a powerful political party that the colonial government had to reckon with.

He commented that:
“Dr Kamuzu Banda is taking over a colossal organization, well disciplined and determined. There are about 300,000 paid up members. We have a Land Rover, an electric duplicator, a large staff and a bank balance of over 2,000 pounds” (Malawi News, 9 April 1960).

Since then, Orton Chirwa served as Vice President of MCP till the first MCP party convention which was held in Nkhotakota towards the end of September 1960 at which a motion was hurriedly passed to make Dr. Banda Life President of the party and scrap off the position of Vice President then occupied by Orton Chirwa. This was done without deliberations in plenary and prior consultations within the structures of the party which left some delegates including Orton Chirwa (incumbent Vice President) himself outraged.
Full at article is available:
http://www.aihnews.com/today-in-the-history-of-malawi-orton-chirwa-voluntarily-hands-over-presidency-of-mcp-to-dr-banda/
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