DPP set pace for primary elections

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has started conducting primary elections with the first phase targeting ward councillors aspirants in the Southern Region.

DPP director of elections Kondwani Nankhumwa said the exercise, which started on Monday would be completed on Friday.

“Next week, we are moving to the Eastern Region, then the Centre and North. We anticipate that the exercise will be completed by November 18. Thereafter, we will start conducting primaries for aspiring members of Parliament.

“By December 16, we should be through with the exercise. We could not combine the two because the events are hectic and we need to analyse results,” said Nankhumwa.

He could not disclose how much the party will spend in the exercise.

The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) in a statement has said the national executive committee (NEC) resolved to hold primary elections from next week.

MCP administrative secretary Potiphar Chidaya has advised interested aspirants to use existing party structures and normal communications channels in the exercise.

“Prior to the holding of the said primary elections, the party shall brief aspirants on the party’s electoral policies, primary polls procedures and processes, and code of conduct,” said Chidaya.

People’s Party (PP) of President Joyce Banda and the United Democratic Front (UDF) said they are putting their houses in order before holding the primary polls.

“We are now assembling area committees. This process is taking shape,” said PP publicity secretary Hophmally Makande in an interview but could not indicate tentative dates when the party will conduct the polls.

His UDF counterpart Ken Ndanga said the process has delayed because there are isolated cases in some electoral colleges.

“We should have started by now. The process has taken longer than expected. But people are collecting nomination forms. We don’t want to go on the ground before sorting out a few issues in electoral colleges,” said Ndanga.

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