The ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) will be testing its popularity outside its Central Region as bye-elections in Zomba Central Constituency’s Mtiya Ward.
The two main parties in the Tonse Alliance MCP of President Lazarus Chakwera and UTM of Vice President Saulos Chilima will battle it out against junior partner Umodzi Party of Dr John Chisi and former ruling parties- the DPP and the UDF.
MEC Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi on Tuesday released the final approved candidates for the September 26, 2023 bye elections.
This is one of rare votes in a city and will gauge the popularity of parties though bye-elections usually have low turn up.
MCP has struggled since 1994 to extend influence outside the Central Region area of Malawi and grabbing a seat in Zomba could boost the morale for the party which is facing criticism of failing to manage the economy and provide direction to recover from many shortages Malawi is experiencing.
The nominated candidates according to MEC are DPPs Maxwell Finiasi, Teresa Kambale for Umodzi Party, Mwalala Micah for the UTM, Humphrey Rabeti for MCP and UDFs Natasha Thewe.
A win for the opposition could be projection of future outcomes of the next main elections slated for 2025.
