Lunguzi loses MCP primary elections: Patrick Bandawe to represent party

Dedza East member of Parliament (MP) Juliana Lunguzi has lost primary elections narrowly to Patrick Bandawe who will now represent the party in the parliamentary race in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.

After a close contest at Mankhama Primary School on Sunday, presiding officier Peter Chalera  declared Bandawe winner with 821 votes against Lunguzi’s 815.

Lunguzi celebrated victory with her supporters as  she had three long queues behind her against Bandawe’s two but results damped her spirit.

Chalera said it was narrow victory for Bandawe with  six votes.

“From the results I have, Mr Patrick Bandawe has won the primary elections and will represent MCP in Dedza East,” Chalera said.

MCP deputy director of recruitment Peter Mazizi who witnessed the primaries, confirmed Bandawe won the polls.

Other candidates who contested were Mussa M’bwana, Steven Biswick  and David Kupempha.

Primary elections in MCP have been marred by violence and complaints of irregularities in many constituencies, prompting some losing candidates to allege that the party has preferred candidates.

At the onset of the primaries in August, about 23 aspirants took the party to court alleging that it was being undemocratic and unconstitutional in handling primary elections.

In October some concerned sitting MPs told the media that something was amiss in the way the primaries were conducted; hence, bringing divisions and confusions in the party.