The High Court sitting in Lilongwe has extended the time within which the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) should hold an elective national political conference (elective convention).
This means that the court has temporarily set aside the September 29, 2023 direction by High Court Judge Simeon Mdeza which ordered the party to hold elections within 90 days.
The period was to end on December 29.
The extension follows an application by the party through an affidavit in support of the application sworn by DPP National Director of Legal Affairs and lawyer Charles Mhango.
According to the order dated December 28, the extension will be until further order of the court.
Initially, the party’s National Governing Council had set December 26 and 27 2023, as dates for the elective national convention.
Last week, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) dismissed DPP’s application to suspend the enforcement of a High Court ruling that ordered the party to hold an elective conference within 90 days, pending appeal.
In his ruling, Justice of Appeal Rowland Mbvundula described the application as premature because the matter was not exhausted by the High Court.
Mbvundula faulted an affidavit in support of the application sworn Mhango saying he did inform this Court whether or not the directions allegedly made by the High Court were made to him.
