By Duncan Mlanjira
Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has announced that it will participate in the forthcoming Parliamentary by-elections for Lilongwe South Constituency under serious protest, citing that it lost trust of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
MEC is set to organize the Parlimentary elections for this constituency on November 5, which were postponed following the death of UTM Party candidate Agnes Penemulungu, who died prior to the May 21 tripartite polls.
MCP is expected to field Peter Dimba and the other candidates are Frank Mazizi from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Samson Phinifolo from UTM party, Patson Mthyoka as Independent and Julius Gracian Chongwe for Mbakuwaku Movement for Democracy (MMD).
“Under the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, every Malawian has right to representation at the Council and National Assembly,” says a statement signed by MCP’s Secretary General, Eisenhower Mkaka.
“As a Party we resepect, promote and protect these rights. The constitution and attendant Acts of Parliament pt the Electoral Commission under certain obligations to ensure that this right to representation is respected, protected and promoted
“It is these obligations that have ensured that the Commission conduct by-elections in Lilongwe South Constituncy and Matanje Ward in Kasungu.
“As you may be aware, the Party’s torchbearer in the 21st May 2019 Presidential Elections is court challenging the results that the Commision announced on 27th May, 2019.
“Owing to the manner in which the Commission ultimately managed the results, the Commission has lost public trust.
“Under normal circumstances, the Commission should have waited for conclusion of the Court Case before they conducted these by-elections.
“With the foregoing, the Malawi Congress Party would wish to make it very clear that the Party is participating in these by-elections under serious protest.
“Our participation is just to ensure that the political rights of the people in these two areas are respected, protected and promoted,” said the statement.
On Wednesday, the constituency’s Returning Officer Innocent Mkandawire received nomination papers, which he described as a routine process.
“The nomination process is very important because it is one of the key stages the candidates go through before the actual polling day and decides whether a candidate is eligible or not to contest,” he said.
Mkandawire revealed that only two candidates from UTM and MMD had brought forms during the fresh nomination process.
“The other 3 candidates had already done so prior to the 21 May parliamentary race following the death of Penemulungu and were only required to write a letter expressing their intent to contest again so we have a total of 5 candidates so far,” he said.
He also urged the candidates to be agents of peace during their campaign and co-exist with one another for the delivery of a free and fair by-election.