There are strong indications that former Member of Parliament (MP) for Lilongwe City South East Bentley Namasasu could face challenges in representing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the rerun scheduled for June 6, 2017.
The rerun will be conducted following the Supreme Court of Appeal ruling which nullified the 2014 parliamentary elections results and called for a rerun.
Contrary to people’s expectations that Namasasu would remain DPP candidate, it has emerged that the party is planning to conduct primary elections where three people have already expressed interest to contest.
Reliable sources have told The Daily Times that retired Major General Reuben Ngwenya and a Mr. Nyasulu are ready to challenge Namasasu in the party’s primary elections.
But Namasasu has said he has not yet been told anything and refused to comment further.
“It’s not as simple as you may think, but what I know is that I have not been told anything. Ever since the ruling, there has been a lot of talk but I should say I prefer not to say anything,” Namasasu said.
DPP Director of Elections Kondwani Nankhumwa yesterday confirmed plans to conduct the primaries.
Nankhumwa said the party believes in democracy and it has opened doors for anyone who would want to contest.
“It is normal for a political party to conduct primary elections in any election. As a party we think we need to give room for other candidates to come in and contest. We cannot just close the door for others,” Nankhumwa said.
He, however, said so far only Namasasu has shown interest and the date for the primary election is not yet set.
“The door is still open for those people who would wish to come and contest but as of today [yesterday] we have not yet received any other name apart from Honourable Namasasu’s,” he said.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Director of Elections in the Central Region Richard Chimwendo Banda said the party has maintained Ulemu Msungama since he was a candidate before and that “the elections were not held”.
People’s Party (PP) spokesperson, Noah Chimpeni, said the party is yet to decide its participation in the forthcoming by-elections.
“We haven’t made a decision as a party. We will be meeting this week to come up with a final position on whether to field a candidate. We will see if we have to invest resources in rebuilding the party countrywide or contest in the elections,” he said.
United Democratic Front (UDF) spokesperson Ken Ndanga said the party will participate in the by-elections, but is yet to identify a candidate.
Following the Supreme Court ruling, some constituents have faulted the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) for holding by-elections and not a rerun and that only Ulemu Msungama and Namasasu should contest since the court case involved the two.
However, Mec has insisted that new candidates would be allowed in the elections.
Apart from Namasasu and Msungama, five others— PP’s Levy Liwemba, UDF’s Labana Chilungo and three independents—contested for the seat in 2014.
Leave a Reply