The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will hold its elective national convention next month, a senior party official announced on Wednesday.

A statement by DPP Secretary General, Grezeldar Jeffrey, said the dates for the convention will be announced by the chairperson for the convention in due course.

However, the statement is in sharp contrast to an earlier declaration by DPP Publicity Secretary, Francis Kasaila that the party will hold the convention in 2019.

The pronouncement comes as members are currently divided on who should be the party’s torch bearer in the 2019 tripartite elections.

The divisions follows sentiments by the former first lady Callista Mutharika that the vice president Saulos Chilima should lead the party in the polls as the incumbent President Peter Mutharika is not fit to rule Malawi beyond 2019.

Chancellor College based political analyst, Dr. Mustafa Hussein, said the move by the party to conduct its national convention is a welcome development saying it will calm down the storm that has been in the party for a couple of weeks.

Nevertheless, Dr. Hussein advised those contesting on any position to exercise diplomacy in order to avoid further wrangles.

However, a member of the so-called Chilima camp, Louis Ngalande expressed fears that the convention will not be legitimate enough considering the short notice given.

“The day to have a convention doesn’t come like that, whom have they consulted? All the positions in the party expired.”

Ngalande who is also former Director of Youth in DPP added: “We could have discussed at a national governing council. The meeting could have guided us and choose people to decide the day for the convention. But for it to happen in June, this is not a good move.”