MCP candidate wins by-election in Mwasa Ward
Unofficials results last night showed that Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Stewart Mwase has won Mwasa Ward in Mangochi North East Constituency while in Chilaweni Ward in Blantyre Rural East Constituency independent Maxwell Phiri was leading.
Mwase got 1 073 votes, beating Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Adam Kida, who amassed 493 votes while United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Assam Dickson M’bwana got 476 votes, Umodzi Party (UP) candidate Andalason Madi got 17 votes and People’s Development Party (PDP) candidate Lynah Bridget Tedie got 57 votes
In Chilaweni, official counting was yet to start as at 9pm.
Candidates in the by-election included Anthony Mitambo of UDF, Ted Kaliati of PDP, DPP’s Reuben Lungu and MCP’s Bernard Nteche.
Others are Lucius Kasonya of Leadership with Compassion Party, Allan Chikomo of UP, Mulira Junior Mulirabello of Muviwachilungamo Revolution Party and independent candidate George Chiluma.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) will announce the official results for the two wards today at the main tally centre at the HHI Secondary School Hall in Blantyre.
Voting in the two by-elections started at 6am and closed at 4pm in line with the new electoral laws and were largely characterised by huge voter turnout.
One of the issues reported during the by-election at Chilaweni Ward was an allegation that a politician was beaten up near Chilaweni Polling Centre.
But in an interview after polling closed, MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja said the incident happened outside the polling station and was not reported to the commission.
“The matter was reported to police and I am sure they are dealing with it,” she said.
On voter turnout, Mtalimanja, a judge of the High Court of Malawi, said the commission was satisfied with the number of people who showed up to vote.
MEC commissioner Richard Chapweteka oversaw the by-elections in Mangochi and expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters, saying it was impressive.
The by-elections were being conducted following the deaths of Edna Yusuf Jose in August 2022, and Carol M’dala of Chilaweni in March 2024.
