Malawi Congress Party (MCP) district chairpersons in the North-South Region have called for a rerun of primary election in Mzimba Central owing to numerous irregularities in the poll held on May 11 2025.
In the disputed primary poll, presidential adviser on rural transformation Adamson Kuseri Mkandawire was declared winner against Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba.
Presenting their findings at a press briefing in Nkhata Bay District yesterday, the chairpersons’ team leader Manase Benga Chiumia said their fact-finding mission established that there were “serious inconsistencies and irregularities that rendered the May 11 primary election in Mzimba Central unfair and in need of nullification”.
He said they undertook the investigation because the MCP constitution mandates district chairpersons to oversee constituency committees. He said the team visited all areas in the constituency and met area committees.
Chiumia said the team was assisted by constituency chairperson in Mzimba Central.
The irregularities, according to the findings, included use of parallel electoral college recently formed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) instead of the 2018 one as stipulated in the party primary elections procedure.
Stated Chiumia: “According to the party constitution, areas are created by constituency committee not NEC as it was the case in the scenario of Mzimba Central primary election.”
Recently, the High Court of Malawi in Mzuzu discharged an injunction obtained by Mumba challenging the legality of the May 11 primary election. The ruling means that Mkandawire, who won the disputed election, will be the MCP candidate in the September 16 General Election.
Reacting to the chairpersons’ demands, Mkandawire said he was not aware of the matter and noted that the party has taken no further action beyond the court ruling.
Meanwhile, Mumba’s lawyer, Khumbo Bonzoe Soko, said they expect the court to call for an inter partes hearing, as their side was not heard before the injunction was vacated.
