The ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), renowned for leading the way in democratic affairs relating to intra-party politics has, once again, maintained its legacy by becoming the first political party to commence primary elections ahead of the September general elections.
The MCP was, yet again, the first to hold its elective convention from 8-10 August last year, electing the party’s leadership structure. The elective convention which saw President Chakwera securing the party’s unanimous endorsement as its torchbearer in the upcoming presidential election took place in Lilongwe, where the party staged an open space for members to battle out for various positions.
Maintaining its leading position in the democratic processes of identifying its leaders, the party has begun conducting its primary elections aimed at identifying candidates who would represent the party as competing candidates in the parliamentary and local government elections.
The party begun the exercise across a number of constituencies. One of the constituencies where the elections took place today is Mchinji West where the party’s Treasurer General, Dr. John Paul, has resoundingly won with 942 votes out of a total of 1,548 votes drawn from 172 areas, beating down five other aspiring candidates including Thokozani Gezire, Mapitilo Chibisa, Jacob Kanyemba, Joyce Banda, and Litah Langa Sanga.
In Dowa West constituency, five candidates, namely Zeria Khumbize Chakale; Alexander Kusamba Dzonzi; Aida Mchenga; Maxwell Mkwapatira; and Mphatso Pheleni, battled it out. Total number of eligible delegates translated into 1,015 votes, with Alexander Kusamba Dzonzi emerging as the winner after scoring a total of 612 votes.
Meanwhile, another election was conducted in Dowa Ngala constituency where 13 aspirants battled it out. A total of 2, 488 delegates voted and candidates included Dr. Elias Chakwera (not related to Dr. Lazarus Chakwera), Rodwell Khombeni, Jamitire Kachepa, Joseph Chafukira, Mercy Kalonga, Rachael Mwanza, Catherine Ndiwo, and Henry Msonkho. Results from this constituency were yet to be announced by the time of this publication.
