By midnight, unofficial results from the March 17 2026 by-elections in four constituencies across the country pointed to three political parties represented in Parliament and an independent sharing the spoils.
In the local government elections race, DPP was set to win four of the nine wards while Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu won one and independents also showed dominance in the rest.
Unofficial results in Rumphi Central Constituency, which fell vacant following the appointment of the September 16 2025 General Election parliamentary race winner Enoch Chihana as Second Vice-President, put Mathews Mtumbuka of UTM Party ahead with 6397 votes against 5 378 for his closest challenger Moir Walita Mkandawire of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
In Blantyre West Constituency where parliamentary elections did not take place on September 16 due to the death of a candidate, unofficial results from 25 out of 33 polling centres showed that independent candidate Mavuto Gulo was leading with 4 269 votes as at 1am.
The results showed that Gulo was trailed by DPP candidate Mphatso Gunsalu with 2 241 votes while another independent candidate Isaac Kanene, the immediate past legislator for the constituency, had secured 233 votes. There were also four other independents in the race who were polling votes less than 200.
Mtumbuka | Nation
Blantyre West Constituency has 23 200 registered voters. By press time at 1am, results from the remaining eight polling centres were being processed.
Preliminary results from all 30 centres in Nkhotakota Liwaladzi Constituency, where elections were stopped due to court orders last September, showed that DPP candidate Thokozire Lunji had a commanding lead with 4 742 against 2 946 for independent Aisha Silver, 2 134 for independent Zelita Tankhulenji Banda, 699 votes for independent Billy Alexander Chaziya and 508 for MCP’s Overstone Kondowe who was MP for the area. People’s Development Party’s Pascal Alfred Chitundu- was last with 49.
Nkhotakota Liwaladzi has 25 663 registered voters, but 11 168 cast their votes.
In Dedza Mtakataka Constituency, MCP candidate Patrick Bandawe was ahead of DPP’s Jacinta Chikaonda from the centres whose results were transmitted. Bandawe was the area’s legislator until last July when Parliament was dissolved and the constituency was called Dedza East.
In Linthembwe Ward in Dowa Ngala Constituency, delivery of results was marred by mobility challenges as heavy rains made the roads impassable.
However, unofficial results by midnight showed that DPP candidate Gideon Chiwasa was leading with 2 321 votes followed by independent candidate Blessings Chaguza who amassed 1 102 votes. In third place was MCP candidate Rachel Meke with 353 votes followed by independent Brian Khumbeni with 296 votes. There were 4 247 valid votes cast against 16 918 registered voters.
Independent Royidi James was leading with 1 166 votes in Mikongo Ward in Mangochi North Constituency in eight out of 12 centres. He was followed by another independent Arthur Kunje with 970 votes. The area also faced challenges of mobility due to heavy rains.
Msitu Ward in Mchinji South Constituency had DPP candidate leading with 1 192 votes against 1 070 for independent Spesha Jasten Fungulani while in Muonekera Ward in Thyolo Goliati Constituency DPP candidate George Molesi had a commanding lead of 2 327 votes followed by independent Isaac Chitseko with 1 283.
In Chirunga Ward in Zomba City North Constituency, unofficial results put Chisomo Lemani, an independent, ahead with 957 votes while in Ighembe Ward in Karonga Songwe Constituency DPP candidate Adrian Masimbi scooped 2 243 votes against 1 458 for Thumbiko Kaonga of UTM Party.
Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu candidate Clavel Dapalapa Mhango received 1 119 votes to take the lead in Luwinga Ward in Mzuzu City North Constituency.
Like in previous by-elections, yesterday’s were largely marred by voter apathy, which political pundits last evening attributed to the heavy rains that poured across the country, but also general lack of interest in voting from the citizenry.
Gift Sambo, an expert in electoral and legislative politics at University of Malawi, said in most low income countries the majority of people are yet to appreciate the power of the vote in transforming lives.
He said: “It is extremely difficult to create a participant political culture in countries like Malawi where the bulk of the population is languishing in poverty. So, a good economy is critical in this case.
“This, coupled with the harsh weather being experienced in most parts of the country has even made matters worse. We need vibrant political parties with the capacity to mobilize voters in such post electoral events.”
On his part, Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said the voting process was largely peaceful and orderly, which reflects growing maturity in Malawi’s democratic culture.
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation executive director Michael Kaiyatsa said while factors such as heavy rainfall may have affected participation in some areas, by-elections have historically attracted fewer voters.
Reporting team: HOLYCE KHOLOWA, ALLAN NYASULU, TED LIKOMBOLA, EUNEAS ZINYENGO, LOVEMORE KHOMO, BRIAN CHIGUMULA, KONDWANI KANDIADO, TAONGA CHIZINGA, AYAMBA KANDODO And CHRISPIN MSISKA, Correspondents
