PP candidate risks arrest for fraud, Malawi Electoral Commission disqualifies him

The Malawi Electoral Commission has disqualified, Blackson Gondwe, a candidate for the Peoples Party for Chibanja ward, Mzuzu city in the by-elections slated for August 25 in five wards.

The candidate also risk arrest by the Police for obtaining registration in a fraudulent way and also lying to a public officer that he is a duly registered voter and forgery.

A statement from the Commission says that the decision was effected because Gondwe obtained registration certificate fraudulently and his same does not appear on the list of registered voters.

The Commission has on July 28, 2015 received 30 nominations and launched the official campaign the following day. However, in a statement released on Saturday, MEC said it has accepted 29 candidates to contest and disqualified one for electoral fraud.

Asked why the issues could not be detected during receipt of nominations, MEC spokesperson, Sangwani Mwafulirwa said Gondwe presented a copy of a registration certificate that looked original but does not appear in the MEC database.

He said a candidate can be disqualified at any stage of the electoral process before voting if information avails which proves his ineligibility.

The statement from MEC explains that the Peoples Party will not be given a second chance to identify another candidate as nomination by substation is not acceptable.

“The Commission also upheld the precedent and guidance made during the May 2014 Tripartite Elections that nomination by substitution is not applicable under the current legal framework.

“This means that the Peoples Party will not have a candidate in Chibanja Ward By-elections. The candidate has, however, been given the opportunity to appeal with the High Court of Malawi,” reads the statement.

This development if not reversed will mean reduction of Peoples Party candidates from five to four. The other party that has field five candidates is the Malawi Congress Party.

The Democratic Progressive Party has four candidates, the United Democratic Front two, Mafunde three, Aford two, Umodzi one and there are eight independent candidates.

All the candidates are as follows:

Khwawa Ward

1. Oswell Mdokera Chavula,         Independent
2. Langfield Kanyimbo,       People’s Party
3. Alick Tchokola Mhango,  Malawi Congress Party
4. Bydon Katambika Msiska,         Democratic Progressive Party
5. John Chipapika Msiska,   Alliance for Democracy
6. Hawkings Mtotomoka Munthali,         United Democratic Front

Chiabanja Ward

1. Gibson Chisale,      Alliance for Democracy
2. Ulaya Kaunda,       Malawi Forum for Unity and Development
3. George Manda,  Democratic Progressive Party
4. Charles Mlogera,  Malawi Congress Party
5. Mike Phiri,   Independent
6. Esmey Zinthambo Jere,  Umodzi Party

Msikisi Ward

1. Fatima Chilawi,      Independent
2. Rasha Chisoni, Malawi Forum for Unity and Development
3. Frank Kambeta,     Malawi Congress Party
4. Wellington Mangulenje,  Independent
5. Idana Masiye,        People’s Party
6. Oliver Tayub,         United Democratic Front

Zomba Central Ward

1. Munira Abdullah,  Independent
2. Melia Likoswe Douglas, Democratic Progressive Party
3. Harry John Mningwa,      Malawi Forum for Unity and Development
4. Wilknes Wilson Nakanga,          Peoples Party
5. Prisca Golozera Unyolo,  Malawi Congress Party
6. Debora Ngwinji Wallani,  Independent

Luchenza ward

1. Joseph Khoromana,         Independent
2. Mercy Luwanda     ,         Independent
3. Dorothy Chibwana Mbayani,  Peoples Party
4. Henderson Alex Spoon, Democratic Progressive Party
5. James Namilonga Stenala,  Malawi Congress Party

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