PP rolls out primaries January 7 to 14: To field 165 for MPs and 330 for councillors

The People’s Party (PP) has announced that it will hold its parliamentary and local government primary elections from from January 7 to January 14.

The party’s director of elections Lawrence Bisika told a news conference in Lilongwe that PP is geared to contest in 165 constituencies out of the 193.

Out of 462 seats in respective councils, the party will field 330 aspirants for councillors.

The party’s leader Joyce Banda will appear on the ballot paper in the presidential race, the party has declared.

“We have tactically, selected the 165 constituencies because we have derived a winning strategy, we have confidence that so far, we can carry the day in these constituencies.”

“Vetting process is still going on in the remaining 28 constituencies and should we get better candidates, we will be able to amend the list,” said Bisika.

Concurring with Bisika was the party’s publicity secretary Ackson Kalaile Banda who said a five day notice has been given to all aspirants in all constituencies as per the provision of the party’s constitution.

Apart from the director of elections and the publicity secretary, the director of women Edith Ntunga also attended the briefing and said no one will represent the party in the 2019 Tripartite Elections without going through primary elections.

The party ruled out possibilities of violence and mismanagement of the process saying the party’s leader is peaceful and preaches that to all it’s members.

Bisika said the party will not favour any candidate but leave it to people to elect a candidate of their choice.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) havebeen conducting their chaotic polls.

MCP and DPP primaries have been marred by serious misunderstandings mainly because of alleged dubious electoral colleges and procedures.

The development has resulted in a faction of DPP demanding the resignation of secretary general Greselder Jeffrey for ‘messing’ up the elections.

The  United Democratic Front (UDF) just started conducting the exercise last week.

Newly registered UTM party will hold it primaries on Thursday, January 3 across the country.