The Dedza Central by-election results have witnessed a victory for Willard Gwengwe of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), who successfully secured the seat previously held by the late Daniel Chiwere. Unofficial figures indicate that Gwengwe garnered 7988 votes, constituting 50% of the total, while independent candidate Jacob Kaumphawi, formerly associated with the MCP, received 7395 votes. In contrast, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate managed to secure only 395 votes, representing a mere 2%.
Noteworthy is the evident decline in the popularity of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, particularly in comparison to the dominant performance of the MCP. This trend is apparent in previous by-elections, such as the 2021 Mzimba East contest, where the MCP candidate secured 3615 votes, dwarfing the DPP’s meager 149 votes. Similarly, in Nkhotakota North East during the same year, MCP garnered 6742 votes, while the DPP received 1930. In the Dedza Central East constituency, MCP’s 6266 votes overshadowed the DPP’s 366.
The pattern continued in the 2022 by-elections in Nsanje North, where the MCP candidate amassed 9856 votes against the DPP candidate’s 8081 votes. In Nsanje Central East constituency, MCP secured 8230 votes, leaving the DPP with 6648 votes. This consistent trajectory suggests that the MCP is emerging as the most favored political party in Malawi and is well-positioned to triumph in the upcoming 2025 general elections.
