By-elections: MCP retain control of central region

Main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has outclassed the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Tuesday’s Parliamentary and Local Government By-elections, according to unofficial results.

Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) held by-elections in Zomba Chisi Constituency, Ngala Ward in Lilongwe Msozi North Constituency, and Mtope Ward in Mchinji West Constituency.

The elections faced low voter turn-out although about 68,000 people had registered to vote in the Tuesday’s (December 22nd) polls.

According to unofficial results, MCP has won both Local Government seats in central region but has performed miserably in eastern region where DPP has won the contested Parliamentary seat.

Unofficial results compiled by Mec stringers, indicate that in Ngala ward in Lilongwe, MCP candidate, Master Rodgers Chazama is leading the race with 1,381 votes with DPP candidate, Regina Sululu on second with 717 votes.

A total of 2,128 votes were casted in all polling station, 30 were null & void.

In Mchinji’s Mtope Ward, unofficial results from all polling centres, show that MCP’s candidate Aureliano Kalemba leads with 2,444 votes while DPP’s Benedicto Tsele has 2,071 votes.

And in Zomba Chisi Constituency, a DPP Parliamentary candidate, Mark Botoman is on lead with over 1,439 votes while MCP’s Blazio Namakhuwa has got so far about 71 votes.

PP’s candidate Asima Mponda has over 426 votes while independent candidate Felista Sumani has over 441 votes.

MEC is expected to announce official results on Wednesday afternoon at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.

The by-elections experienced low voter turned-out with less than half of registered voters casting their votes in almost all polling centres.

MEC Media and Public Relations Manager, Sangwani Mwafulirwa on Tuesday attributed the situation to rainy season as people were busy tending to their gardens.

“While some centres had warm turnout others had less people trickling in the morning. This is not uncommon with by-elections more especially considering that this is farming season,” explained Mwafulirwa.

”Some voters would want to go to their gardens first and come for polling in the afternoon”.

Mwafulirwa could not admit on fears that the by-elections might have experienced voter apathy as witnessed by the number of people turning out to cast their votes.

In Zomba, MEC held Parliamentary by-election following the death of legislator, Chidzaro Peter Mangulenje who was, until his death, deputy secretary general for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). In Lilongwe Ngala Ward elections were held after its councillor resigned while in Mchinji Mtope Ward it is due to the death of the councillor.

Only the ruling DPP, the main opposition, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the Peoples Party (PP) and independent candidates contested in the by-elections. The United Democratic Front (UDF) did not field any candidate.