18 independent Members of Parliament (MPs) who won in the May 21 Tripartite Elections have joined the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

The legislators were welcomed into MCP during the party’s first ever rally since the elections held at Kaliyeka rround in the capital Lilongwe where Peoples Party (PP) president Joyce Banda was also in attendance.

MCP President Lazarus Chakwera told YFM in an interview that the party organised the rally in order to thank and welcome the new MPs.

“We wanted to thank our Members of Parliament and those particularly who have rejoined the Malawi Congress Party and we wanted to make that public,” said Chakwera.

In additional, the MCP leader said the rally was also a platform to convey a message of peace to MCP followers who will be protesting during the demonstrations organised by the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) to do so in a peaceful manners.

“When people show displeasure they are permitted to demonstrate, and my advice was make sure you do it peacefully, when Malawians demonstrate make sure they do that within the law, we should never allow fraught elements that spoil something as legitimate as this is,” he said.

On her part, Banda reiterated her party`s commitment in holding the MCP-PP alliance stronger citing that there is need for political unity to overcome victory.

Meanwhile, both leaders have called for peace in the country as the Party awaits for court`s determination on the electoral case that is currently in a constitution court.

Among other notable figures that were present at the rally were MCP Vice President; Sidik Mia, First Deputy Speaker; Madalitso Kazombo, Mayor for Lilongwe City; Her Worship Julian Kaduya and husband to PP president, Richard Banda.