The High Court of Malawi has stopped Malawi Congress Party (MCP) from conducting primaries in Lilongwe Msozi Constituency until a judicial review on a complaint over composition of the electoral college.
The court granted the injunction on Sunday following an application filed by constituency secretary Brighton Marko and area chairperson Gift Chidzam’mbuyo.
The order restrains holding of primaries to identify the party’s candidate in the parliamentary race in the September 16 General Election “until a further order of the court and or the conclusion of the substantive matter”.
Meanwhile, the court has set July 8 for hearing of the matter. However, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) will by then have closed receiving of nomination papers.
MEC will open the nomination period for parliamentary aspirants from June 10 to July 5 2025.
In an interview yesterday, MCP director of legal affairs Jivason Kadzipatike said he advised the party to comply with the injunction.
“The conflict is around the constitution and composition of area committees, which are mandated to vote during the primary elections,” he said.
Kadzipatike said he was consulting the MCP secretariat on the way forward.
Aspirants for the MCP ticket in the constituency include Lilongwe Msozi North legislator Sosten Gwengwe, Lilongwe Msozi South legislator Liana Chapota Munthali, Bizwick Chapota and Warrant Chasukusa.
During the redemarcation, Lilongwe Msozi South and North were merged into one.
MCP primary elections in some constituencies have been beset by challenges such as disagreements on electoral college and acts of violence.
In Lilongwe Mpenu Constituency, primaries ended in chaos last week after ballot papers ran out.
A video shared on social media showed people destroying ballot papers which had already been cast.
Former MCP secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka, Aaron, Makala Ngozo, Dan Mtayamanja and Beauty Kumtomoni are contesting in the constituency.
In an interview yesterday, MCP director of elections Elias Chakwera said the party will issue guidance on the way forward regarding elections in Lilongwe Mpenu and in Dedza Dzalanyama Constituency where results were withheld following disagreements.
During MCP primary elections conducted last week, Jephter Mwale won in Mchinji Central East, Anthony Masamba emerged victorious in Mchinji North East, Zebron Chilondola won in Dedza Mayani while Mchinji North East MP Godfrey Kapalamula and Mchinji North legislator Rachael Mazombwe Zulu retained their MCP tickets.
