Political expert doubts 20 will battle it out for State House: Battle narrowed down to five, others are pretenders
A political expert has doubted the 20 people who collected the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) nomination papers will all be eligible to battle it out for the State House job.
Henry Chingaipe said past experiences show that many people collect the papers but fewer returns them to the pollster.
“People should not be alarmed with the figure, very few of them will return the nomination papers and some of them who will return might be disqualified for one reason or another,” said Chingaipe.
Out of the 20 people who have collected the presidential nomination papers, only three are women whilst seven will stand as independent presidential candidates.
“MEC will only receive valid papers. These are supposed to get 10 valid signatures from each district for them to qualify. This is not easy, some of them might not be able to do that.
“They have to pay K2 million. This is not a small amount of money by any means. Some of them might not have the money to pay as nomination fee. Others just wanted to get fame, they might not be serious,” he said.
In addition, Chingaipe said, the collection of the nomination papers is free and MEC does not ask you whether you want to participate in the presidential race or not.
“We should not be excited so much about this, only a few will make it on the ballot paper,” he said.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) said out of the 20 who have collected the forms ahead of presentation scheduled for between February 4 and 8, 12 aspirants are representing political parties, seven are independent candidates and one is representing a coalition.
The two aspirants have joined incumbent President Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party), Joyce Banda (People’s Party), serving Vice-President Saulos Chilima (UTM), Atupele Muluzi (United Democratic Front), Enock Chihana (Alliance for Democracy) and John Chisi of Umodzi Party.
Others are former vice-president Cassim Chilumpha leading Tikonze People’s Movement—a coalition of six minor political parties, Chris Daza of Democratic People’s Congress, Peter Kuwani (Mbakuwaku Movement for Development), Chimbuna Belekiah (United Independence Party), Sally Kumwenda Yadwad (Leadership with Compassion) and Loudon Malingamoyo Phiri of National Salvation Front.
Henry Jailos Mdebwe, Smart Swira, Florence Fulayi, Rhodrick Makhambera Pastor Baxter Boyd Natulu, Ras Chikomeni David Chirwa and Reverend D.H. Kaliya complete the list of independent aspirants.
Each aspirant is expected to pay K2 million to participate in the election
Chingaioe said the real battle remains among Mutharika, Chakwera, Chilima, Muluzi and Banda.
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Chingaipe, as a matter of fact many people are not excited that there will be 20 presidential candidates, but rather worried. Having numbers does not help us at all. Much as everybody wants to exercise their democratic right to vie for the highest office, it does not make good sense to proceed with plans which the result is obviously known. Developed countries will always have less than 5 candidates and there is a good reason for doing that. Our biggest problem is greed of our politicians. They treat politics as family business. Some of these so called presidential candidate lost… Read more »
Game is between MCP and UTM, enawo ndopelekeza. Who in his NORMAL State would go for an 80 year old candidate?
kkkkkkk 80s is more like voting for him to die well.
Why are people running away to be Initiation councilors (Ngalibas) at their villages? I do not think people with their right minds can vote for an 80 year old man. Go home and advise boys at the villages
waste of time for the independant candidates and all new comers. The race is between DPP and MCP enawo afuna akalire ikawina DPP which is an obvious thing.
wabodza iwe