Poor turnout marks bypolls: Mutharika votes in Thyolo East

Voter apathy characterized the parliamentary by-elections that were conducted Tuesday October 7 in Thyolo East and Blantyre North constituencies as well as in five other local wards for councillors.

Voter apathy
Voter apathy
Mutharika casting his vote in Thyolo
Mutharika casting his vote in Thyolo

Voters being assisted by electoral official

Voting in the Thyolo East parliamentary by-election started on a low note with most polling stations having only a trickle of voters.

Malawi President Peter Mutharika went to cast his vote at Goliati Primary School in Thyolo East. He arrived at 12:40pm and took just four minutes to finish the whole process of casting his vote.

Mutharika was even surprised with the voter apathy and was overhear asking some senior officials why the centre had registered a low turnout.

Speaking to journalists after casting his ballot, Mutharika who won the seat in May 20 elections but relinquished it as he is Head of State, said he had “to vote and exercise my right to participate in voting.”

A snap survey by Nyasa Times at some polling stations in Blantyre North revealed low voter turnout at most polling stations which opened at 06:00 hours.

Voter turnout was impressive in the morning in Ntcheu for Kandeu Ward in Ntcheu North Constituency but later declined gradually leaving polling staff with no people to attend to.

MEC was conducting the by-elections in the two constituencies and five wards after voting was postponed during the May 20 Tripartite Elections due to death of aspiring candidates.

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Puya wa Mapuya
9 years ago

Its not voter apathy no,no,no,but a reflection of pipoz feelings,anthu sanavotele DPP pa 20may umboni mwaupeza nokha ndi ma by-elections,mwa-antu 58,000 analembetsa ku thyolo east only 6000 voted???????ku blantyre north frm 48,000 registrd .voters ovota 9000?????Zikutiuza chani???

Malawi
Malawi
9 years ago

Tatopa ndikunamizidwa.

peter
peter
9 years ago

The vote apathy was a reflrection of what mbendera did for 20/05/2014 voting process. He should immediately resign from this post and go back to Judicial. He is not a capable person to handle voting process. He should be ashemed by now.

JAYJAY
9 years ago

vindere vikutondeka nakuvota uwo.kulongoleratu kuti even mavoti ya pa may 2014 vikavota yayi vikibira waka.vindere ndi chewa na viyawo bavibra mbeno vili chete.

Nkhondomukaya
Nkhondomukaya
9 years ago

I will only vote for independence of the north or federal government.Zinazi ayi.Zobera tatopa nazo.

anonymous
anonymous
9 years ago

i cant remember when last Nyasa times write something sense without critisizing APM this web page is boring

Dreadful. Mwikhoma
Dreadful. Mwikhoma
9 years ago
Reply to  anonymous

nthawi zonse timangomva zotukwana boma, palibe kuyamikira kuli konse it’s obvious dat it’s a certain conspiracy which z busy getting money to feed their families as amonthly salary from opposition groups and parties “IN this way u bless the leader and it’s Government.

John Banda
John Banda
9 years ago

I will NEVER vote again.

H Kamdidi
H Kamdidi
9 years ago

It is not surprising that few people went to vote after all people have realized that it is not their vote that makes one to win but rather the courts. They know that even if they wake up early in the morning, at the end of it all it is Justice Mbendera who will decide the winner.

saidi
saidi
9 years ago

why vote when your vote will not count!!!! Kongovutitsa moyo

Unkolo ako
Unkolo ako
9 years ago

Mutharika thinks he is funny. After discouraging people with their rough tactics in the main elections he has the nerve to ask why other parties are not taking part. Don’t worry Petala, soon it will be your turn to deal with voter apathy.

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