UTM will pay nomination fees for candidates who cannot afford

UTM Party director of publicity Joseph Chidanti Malunga  has tweaked its leader Saulos Chilima’s promise that the movement  would pay nomination fees for all its candidates, saying  actually the party would only pay for those who cannot afford.

Chilima: UTM torch bearer

Chilima, who is also State Vice-President, said at Njamba Freedom Park on July 29 2018 during the Southern Region launch of United Transformation Movement—which later registered as UTM Party,  said the party would field candidates in all the 193 constituencies and 462 wards and pay for “all of them”.

But the party which has been holding fund raising activities of late, will not spend  K114 million to pay  nomination fees for both parliamentary and local government candidates.

According to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) nomination fees structure, male aspiring members of Parliament (MPs) will pay K500 000, aspiring female MPs K250 000, youths—those under 35 years—will cough K375 000 while candidates with disabilities will part with K250 000.

In the Local Government elections, male candidates will pay K40 000, females K20 000, youths K30 000 and those with disabilities K20 000. The fees are non-refundable.

Chidanti Malunga said after the primaries,  those that fail to pay, the party would do so.

”However, it is not like everyone will fail to pay because there are some who will pay for themselves, like myself,” said Malunga in quotes reported by the local press.

UTM is set to hold its primaries a day earlier on January 3 2019 in all the constituencies and wards simultaneously.

Chidanti Malunga said the party has set up an independent committee to manage the primaries as a strategy to ensure that there are less challenges encountered as has been the case with other parties which have been holding their primaries.

He said the committee would be chaired by one of the UTM members, Mwanza West legislator Paul Chibingu, who is the party’s director of elections. He said to ensure neutrality and fairness, the rest of the membership of the committee will comprise non-politicians.

MEC will receive nomination papers from candidates from January 4 to February 4 2019.

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20 replies on “UTM will pay nomination fees for candidates who cannot afford”

  1. un fortunately utm can not make it in top three,sorry truth pains!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  2. If these candidates are failing to pay their fees, what will happen if elected. It means no development in their areas, the money will be in their pocket. No wonder corruption is there. What are they going to offer the people. Oh God we need divine intervention.

  3. At Masintha SKC said the same thing
    ” UTM will pay nomination fees for those who can’t afford”. So what’s the story here. Nyasa times check your facts.

  4. What will be the measure for those who will not manage? Fulumira akoma ukalasa. Dont promise what you cannot manage or not sure of. People cannot trust you anymore.. Dont say something because you want to impress the people infront of you. That is the biggest blunder in politics.

    1. From well wishers like me and so many other well meaning people, I think you should be asking Mr Maliseche about MK145m. Don’t worry about us

    2. From well wishers and well meaning people who want a better Malawi, you should be worried about MK145M stolen from poor tax payers by Mr Maliseche than worry about us

  5. Not sure if there is any change there. I mean if a church says we will provide transport for all congregation wanting to travel to district x, does it mean it has failed to do so or misled people if some people decide to travel there on their personal vehicles?

    1. Even better if they had said ” Contests are free but those who feel the need to contribute are free to do so”

    2. There will be no stiff competition during UTM primaries Mr Wandu, only more and more unopposed candidates. This party is not as popular on the ground as it is on social media.

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