UDF primary elections skip three constituencies

The United Democratic Front (UDF) has postponed primaries in Blantyre following complaints from some aspiring members of Parliament (MPs) that they were treated unfairly during preparations.

UDF conducted primary elections in the district last Friday. However, the party skipped Blantyre Malabada, Blantyre Bangwe and Blantyre City East constituencies.

UDF publicity secretary Ken Ndanga told The Nation the party received complaints from aspirants who are not pleased with preparations for the primaries in the three constituencies.

“At each area level of our party structure, we have 15 people who are eligible to vote during primary elections. But according to the complaints we have received, there were some leaders within the party who were hiding identities of these 15 eligible people so that some aspirants should not know them,” he said.

Ndanga said the primary elections organising committee is assessing the claims and it will conduct primary elections in the three constituencies when the dispute is settled.

Blantyre City East Constituency has five aspiring MPs while both Blantyre Malabada and Blantyre Bangwe have two aspiring MPs each.