The main opposition Malawi Congress Party(MCP) led by Lazarous Chakwera has won Mchinji West by elections beating the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with a wide margin of 10,686 against 4,806 after campaigning dominated by concern over economic turmoil.On Tuesday, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) conducted byelections in Mchinji West Constituency, Bembeke Ward in Dedza, Kaliyeka Ward in Lilongwe South East Constituency, Sadzi Ward in Zomba Central Constituency and Bunda Ward in Kasungu.
Mchinji West MP -elect of MCP, Jephter MwaleAccording to the results compiled at Kamwendo tally centre in Mchinji west, MCP’s Jepther Mwale polled 10,686 followed by DPP’s Stephano Kamwani with 4806 votes andan independent candidate Mr Kuwani came third by polling 673 votes while Arnold Lyson of Peoples Party (PP) miserably got 114 votes.The results also showed 218 votes which were declared null and void.Mchinji West constituency fell vacant following the death of the MCP member of Parliament, Kanjira Banda.Mwale has won the seat amid controversy which arose between the DPP and MCP over revelation that Personal Assistant of Malawi’s Vice President, Saulos Chilima, Moses Kuchingale was caught impersonating as MEC official by wearing MEC attire and the name tag.But the MCP special electoral observer team managed to take him out and later he sought protection from Mchinji Police since angry opposition party members had wanted to take the law into their own hands.In Dedza Bembeke, MCP Wilfred Sangala has won by pollingb2626 vites against DPP Betty Maluwa who has got only 1240 votes.In Kasungu Philimon Theu of DPP has won by 619 against 297 votesof Jonathan Tembo of MCP.In Lilongwe Kaliyeka ward,a Mr Banda of MCP has polled 761 votes against DPP candidate who trailed by 641 votes.And lastly in Zomba Sadzi ward DPP candidate Mercy Chaputula has won by 400 votes.A political analyst said MCP’s win despite President Peter Mutharikaand his deputy Saulos Chilima vigorous campaign shows the public assigning clear blame for the country’s economic woes to the DPP government.
Malawi Daily nkhani Media 