Presidential candidates in the September 16 General Election are today and tomorrow in last-ditch efforts to woo voters to elect them ahead of the end of the 60-day official campaign at 6am on Sunday.
In separate interviews yesterday, political parties and independent candidates said they have lined up rallies, whistle-stop tours and door-to-door meetings to sway voters.
President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday had a busy day, opening Thyolo District Council multi-storey office complex and Zomba Stadium. During both events, the President also lured voters to pick him him for continued development projects.
From Zomba, the President, who is governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate, conducted whistle-stop rallies in Machinga heading to Mangochi through Nselema and Ntaja.
However, MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda and publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila did not respond to The Nation queries to find out where the President will wind up his campaign.
Some MCP insiders hinted that the President may close his campaign at Katoto Ground in Mzuzu.
UTM Party spokesperson Felix Njawala said the party’s presidential candidate Dalitso Kabambe, who invaded Mangochi on Wednesday, will conduct whistle-stop rallies in Phalombe today before winding up with a rally at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre tomorrow.
A poster shared on the Democratic Progressive Party official Facebook page indicates that former president and the party’s torchbearer Peter Mutharika will also tour Phalombe as well as Thyolo and Mulanje today.
On the other hand, People’s Party secretary general Ben Chakhame said former president Joyce Banda, the party’s presidential candidate, is in the Northern Region where she campaigned in Nkhata Bay on Wednesday and is expected to address a rally in Mzimba tomorrow.
People’s Development Party (PDP) presidential candidate Kondwani Nankhumwa has been engaging supporters in Mulanje.
PDP spokesperson Rhodes Msonkho said Nankhumwa plans to hold a rally at Chisitu Ground in Mulanje tomorrow.
United Democratic Front president Atupele Muluzi, who held whistle stop rallies in Mangochi yesterday, will wind up campaign with a rally in Mangochi Municipality tomorrow, according to a flyer.
In a separate interview, independent candidate Milward Tobias said his campaign teams continue to conduct village meetings while his messages are being broadcast on local radio stations
“On Saturdays I spend the day at church, but I will likely have a rebroadcast of manifesto messages on radio stations in the evening,” he said.
Another independent candidate Adil Chilungo said he will campaign in Nkhotakota today before shifting his focus to Mangochi on Saturday while independent candidate Smart Swira said he was in Lilongwe meeting people and will also be in Mangochi on Saturday.
On his part, Akwame Bandawe of Amayi, Anyamata, Atsikana Party said he will hold door-to-door meetings in Lilongwe tomorrow while Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu presidential candidate Michael Usi, who is the country’s Vice-President, said will close his campaign in the Southern Region with whistle-stop rallies.
Meanwhile, political analyst Ernest Thindwa has described the final campaign push as significant in encouraging people who align with particular parties or candidates to go out and vote.
In an interview yesterday, he said the recent Institute for Public Opinion and Research survey released this month showed that 11 percent of registered voters remained undecided.
“This is a significant number which could be key. So, the final push could make sure that the undecided voters are locked in,” said Thindwa.
Malawi Electoral Commission launched the 60-day official campaign period on July 14 and it runs until Sunday, 48 hours before Malawians vote for president, 228 members of Parliament and 503 ward councillors.
