DPP primaries end in chaos in Nsanje Lalanje: Aspirant Njazi accuses party of fixing candidate Ganda’s wife 

August 29, 2017 Green Muheya -Nyasa Times Be the first to comment

Chaos erupted on Sunday  during primary elections for the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Nsanje Lalanje Constituency  where three  people, including Gladys Ganda, wife to late Sam Ganda who was the area’s Member of Parliament (MP), battled it out.

Chaos at DPP primaries as party is accused of of fixing candidate at the expense of the electorate.

After about 5,000 delegates were made to seat in the Bangula Admarc hall and they were asked to make a line following where their candidate was.

There were disagreements over the voting arrangement in the primary elections  over  criteria to vet the electoral college which is drawn from constituency executive.

Aspirant Carols Njazi said there were “imported voters” for Ganda in the polling hall.

Njazi vehemently protested against the voting procedure arguing that there was a plot for his downfall.

“There were people who were imported from some places and not constituents. The presiding officer allowed chaotic polls to go ahead,” Njazi claimed Sunday at Bangula Admarc where the party held its primary elections.

The elections which were overseen by DPP Southern Region Vice President Dr. George Chaponda and Primary Elections Chairman, Nicholas Dausi, attracted three candidates including Njazi, Ganda and Winnie Wakudyanaye.

Ganda was declared the winner and DPP torch bearer for the forth coming parliamentary by-elections.

However, Wakudyanaye was disqualified.

Dausi explained: “Every party like DPP has procedures which need to be followed for one to contest in any primary elections. As DPP one has to go through the Area, Constituency, District then Region when processing her interest to contest. “

Meanwhile, Njazi has asked DPP to organise a fresh primary polls , claiming it was a pre-arranged strategy to frustrate him as front-runner.

“They should organise a free, fair and credible fresh primary elections. But if DPP refuses to be democratic in this process, then I will I will press on standing as an MP for the area.

“I have overwhelming support. The constituents who will vote in the by-elections are backing me, the people who were hired to vote in primaries will not be eligible to vote in by-elections,” he charged.

Nsanje Lalanje Constituency fell vacant following the death of its Member of Parliament, late Sam Ganda in May this year.

Ganda will contest for Lalanje Parliamentary seat against Lawrence Sitolo of MCP.
This will be Sitolo’s second attempt having lost to the former deputy minister in 2014 tripartite elections.
MCP now seems to have support in the lower shire, thanks to prominent politician and businessman Sidik Mia, who recently joined the main opposition party having stayed out of politics for three years.
The by-elections will take place on October 17, 2017.

Meanwhile, MEC has closed the voter registration and voters roll inspection for the October 17 by elections.

The exercise, which started last week, according to MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa, ended late afternoon on Monday.

He said there will be no extension to the exercise and that the electoral body will not accept registrants or transfers from outside the constituency or wards where the by-elections are  taking place.

Mwafulirwa urged all political parties and aspirants to nomination papers from the Constituency or Ward Returning Offices and Council headquarters.

The  by-elections will also take place in the following areas; Lilongwe Nsozi North Constituency, Lilongwe City South East Constituency, Nsanje Lalanje Constituency, Mtsiliza Ward in Lilongwe Mayani North Ward in Dedza, and Ndirande Makata Ward in Blantyre.

 

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