BT Mayor elections: DPP supporters engage police in running battles
Voting for Mayor for Blantyre City on Wednesday had to be delayed at Blantyre Civic Center as ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters and police engaged in running battles.
DPP supporters were demanding that their councillor Louis Ngalande’s name be included on the list of the candidates vying for the position of mayor.
However, the council members had earlier on not proposed Ngalande’s name but that of independents Noel Chalamanda, Gertrude Chirambo and DPP’s Alinane George Chipwete.
But DPP supporters who were waiting outside the Civic Hall were irked with the development.
One of the DPP MPs Noel Masangwi attempted to calm down the supporters telling them that the party and President Peter Mutharika had asked Ngalande not to contest to back Chalamanda.
But the irate DPP tsupporters invaded the hall demanding that no vote should be cast unless Ngalande’s name is included.
Minister of Local Government Thomie Gowero, Blantyre City Council Chief executive officer Ted Nandolo and some MPs consulted on the way forward and a decision was reached to cancel the election at the time and after there was calm, the elections proceeded.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :