Political parties have intensified preparations for the March 17 2026 parliamentary and local government by-elections.
The by-elections will be held in Nkhotakota Liwaladzi, Dedza Mtakataka, Blantyre West and Rumphi Central constituencies as well as in nine local government wards.
In an interview yesterday, UTM publicity secretary Felix Njawala said his party agreed to support its candidates for both parliamentary and local government elections.
He expressed optimism that UTM will perform well following the survey it conducted to strengthen its campaign strategy and examine its strengths and weaknesses after the 2025 General Election.
Said Njawala: “As UTM, we agreed to support all our candidates in the by-election and we have already started supporting our candidates. So as a party, we are more than ready for the by-elections.”
In an earlier interview, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) publicity secretary Shadric Namalomba, who is also Minister of Information and Communications Technology, said his party has always been ready for by-elections.
He said the party will field candidates in all the four constituencies and nine wards and expressed optimism to win all the seats.
On her part, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) publicity secretary Jessie Kabwira believes that her party will come stronger in the March’s by-elections. She also said the party will field candidates in all the affected areas and expressed hope to win all the seats.
In a separate interview, People’s Development Party president Kondwani Nankhumwa said his party has a candidate for Nkhotakota Liwaladzi Constituency by-election.
Meanwhile, Alliance for Democracy (Aford) has written DPP that it will only feature candidates in Rumphi Central Constituency and Luwinga North Ward in Mzuzu City.
In a letter we have seen, signed by Aford secretary general Linda Limbe and addressed to DPP secretary general Peter Mukhito, she says Aford will provide technical and material support to all DPP candidates.
The wards are Iyembe (Karonga Songwe), Luwinga (Mzuzu City North), Chilobwe (Lilongwe Chilobwe), Muonekela (Thyolo Goliati), Linthembwe (Dowa Ngara), Msitu (Mchinji South), Mikongo (Mangochi North East), Chanda (Zomba Chikomwe) and Chilunga (Zomba City North).
