MCP wins Mchinji West by-elections and two wards, DPP secure two wards: ‘Malawians fed up with hard times’
The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) led by Lazarous Chakwera has won Mchinji West by elections beating the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with a wide margin of 10,686 against 4,806 after campaigning dominated by concern over economic turmoil.
On Tuesday, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) conducted byelections in Mchinji West Constituency, Bembeke Ward in Dedza, Kaliyeka Ward in Lilongwe South East Constituency, Sadzi Ward in Zomba Central Constituency and Bunda Ward in Kasungu.

According to the results compiled at Kamwendo tally centre in Mchinji west, MCP’s Jepther Mwale polled 10,686 followed by DPP’s Stephano Kamwani with 4806 votes and an independent candidate Mr Kuwani came third by polling 673 votes while Arnold Lyson of Peoples Party (PP) miserably got 114 votes.
The results also showed 218 votes which were declared null and void.
Mchinji West constituency fell vacant following the death of the MCP member of Parliament, Kanjira Banda.
Mwale has won the seat amid controversy which arose between the DPP and MCP over revelation that Personal Assistant of Malawi’s Vice President, Saulos Chilima, Moses Kuchingale was caught impersonating as MEC official by wearing MEC attire and the name tag.
But the MCP special electoral observer team managed to take him out and later he sought protection from Mchinji Police since angry opposition party members had wanted to take the law into their own hands.
In Dedza Bembeke, MCP Wilfred Sangala has won by pollingb2626 vites against DPP Betty Maluwa who has got only 1240 votes.
In Kasungu Philimon Theu of DPP has won by 619 against 297 votes of Jonathan Tembo of MCP.
In Lilongwe Kaliyeka ward,a Mr Banda of MCP has polled 761 votes against DPP candidate who trailed by 641 votes.
And lastly in Zomba Sadzi ward DPP candidate Mercy Chaputula has won by 400 votes.
A political analyst said MCP’s win despite President Peter Mutharika and his deputy Saulos Chilima vigorous campaign shows the public assigning clear blame for the country’s economic woes to the DPP government.
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The results are not a true reflection of which party is gaining popularity. If MCP is not winning in the center where will it win? But how come DPP claiming a win in KA ? Its warning to MCP, samalani DPP yayamba kunjoya ku away ground.
I have NEVER EVER commented on this site about anything but reading this makes me as someone with a strong Lomwe background feel so sorry for myself, I really feel like I should cry; Cry for my country because it simply shows Malawi will NEVER develop because is will always be about regions, tribes, politics… I still can not wrap my head around how people think think that a certain tribe can lead and the other one can not lead, it is just uncomprehending. And then when one has obvious said something very offensive goes ahead and apologized….. Mpakana munthu… Read more »
Surely it is DPP that has performed by winning 2 wards in the home of the MCP. MCP holding on to Mchinji is not impressive or newsworthy, it was expected.
If MCP wants us to be impressed, let them contest a single outside of the Chewa belt and i bet they will not even get 1000 votes.
This is why MCP will never win a popular vote for the presidency, they have no support outside of their backyard.
Congratulations Dpp for wining in kasungu home of mcp.Mcp wonani anzanu kukulowani
Wow, its getting more interesting to see that some of you are justfying the results of dpp in central region, iwever there two or more factors, districts like kasungu, Lilongwe, and mchinji and even all them here, shall have this kind of results every time of elections, because people south begun flocking to central region many years for jobs in farms, and also many business guys are from south in all markets in central region, therefore since this reginalism partisan politics begun, which now is being propagated by people you on this page, they now vote not because of right… Read more »
If I have to vote in Malawi 2019 between two people I could not look at where a man comes or tribe. I don’t know Chakwela but since there are only two to vote for I could vote for Chakwela. If Chilima stands and leave DDP I could put all my vote on him. Why he is young and only one who can correct mistakes caused by UDF, DDP, PP. Because he was not one of the dirty blood. U see Malawians corruption started with UDF and it continue even now. Who are the people ruling or are I. Government… Read more »
People from the south especially the non-Lomwes must wake up, just for once, if indeed Malawi is to start registering tangible development gains. Your vote is paramount so that the right non-Lomwe leader comes to power in 2019. The leaders leading the Malawi nation today are Lomwe, and this is where the Malawi development agenda collapses big time, and this is a disgrace to any sane Malawian including the Lomwes. History abit……….. Traditionally, Lomwes live their lives without clear and organized leadership structures. They came into Malawi without a leader but just a bunch of individuals crossing into Nyasaland, and… Read more »
I will in the same way ask my tribalistic Chewa to wake up and show us that they are Malawians by for once voting for a non MCP party. Otherwise, why should it be awkward when a Lomwe votes for a fellow Lomwe and it should be wise when a Chewa votes for a fellow Chewa? Mwagwa nayo achewa. Tikumana 2019. DPP will be in government forever, if this voting pattern is anything to go by.
The margin is just very big considering the effort that the ruling party put in these by-elections. DPP needs to do a post-mortem of what went wrong in their game plan.
Wa mwale, the trend now is the same as it was 22 years ago. You MCP supporters were told not to vote for the MCP, a party which everybody witnessed its atrocities. Despite the warnings the centre voted overwhelmingly for Kamuzu and every candidate who stands for the party. When you say one day the South will change and vote as human beings because they also are suffering as people from other regions you forget that you were also warned of this but you did not change up to now. Yet now you expect the South to change their voting… Read more »
Back to sender! Holy Ghost fire!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr Tommzy, which state will Chakwera be the president? Why are people come too confident with these results as if there is some gains for Chakwera? If you look closely you will discover that Chakwera is losing popularity compared to the votes he got in 2014. It is the DPP having the gains in MCP strong hold. Chakwera would have been considered gaining ground if he fared well in Zomba and Kasungu. Its a shame to Chakwera to lose the Kasungu ward which is considered his ” kuchipinda”. Chakwera can not win the 2019 elections with the votes from central… Read more »
Off course, you are a DPP but look at the bigger picture. The DPP poured all their resources in Nchinji but lost miserablly. These are the signs. You people keep talking with your fake confidence but reality is different. Lets wait and see
This is what happened in south Africa people get fed up! Come to term wth reality….u cant be lyng to people all time…
Netral and wakwiya, there is no way, MCP will win in Malawi, the reason is simple, These people will not get votes from southern region, but DPP will get some votes in both the regions even Mps. It is the only party with MPs in all regions, North, central and south. Go to nkhotakota,ntcheu, Dowa , Mzimba, even Karonga Chitipa and other districts in the north. If we mention Lilongwe city DPP will also get better votes than other parties, while MCP will be the best in getting the votes. Now if come to southern region the least party to… Read more »