Mistrust has engulfed primary elections in the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) with some parliamentary aspirants accusing those conducting the elections of manipulating electoral colleges in favour of certain candidates.
The wrangles have so far come to light in Lilongwe Bunda, Chitipa North, Dedza Linthipe and Mzimba Central constituencies.
Events in the Mzimba Central primaries, set for April 12 with Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba, took a twist on Wednesday evening when Mumba’s team petitioned the party, alleging manipulation of delegates.
Mumba, a national executive member (NEC) of MCP, has written party secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda stating that his team feels sidelined by MCP North-South Region chairperson Joseph Chavula in the preparations.
In a letter dated April 7 2025, Mumba also accused Chavula of appointing the electoral college in 13 new areas, disregarding those instituted by the constituency committee.
He further quoted Chavula as having said that the NEC gave him areas which can be used for primaries.
“This is my third and last letter. I experienced a premeditated and biased electoral process last year [during the convention]. I will not watch that happening in my own backyard,” he said.
In a related development, on Wednesday, the Mzimba Central Constituency Committee also petitioned MCP director of elections Elias Chakwera over similar irregularities and requested that the primaries be shifted to May 3 and 5.
Chimwendo Banda, who is also Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture, could not be reached for comment, but Chavula described the issues as “internal”.
He also accused Mumba of trying to buy sympathy.
Said Chavula: “Sometimes people just talk to buy public sympathy and do things because they use money to pay people and do certain things. I don’t subscribe to that.”
On his part, Chakwera said in the case of Lilongwe Bunda Constituency, a special task force was instituted and the matter was resolved, adding there are many other areas with queries and they will be resolved.
He said: “If you have any issue from that area [Mzimba Central], where I have not even been to, then you better check with the regional office which gives me data. Until I do the elections, then I will have issues, not now.”
But commenting on the developments, political analyst Ernest Thindwa, an expert in electoral and identity politics, said unfair and manipulated procedures in primaries undermine the parties’ abilities to identify the most appealing candidates.
He said: “In worse scenarios, disgruntled contestants may opt to stand as an independent candidate further splitting the party’s votes in a constituency.
“Political competition is never smooth. It can be unforgiving. It is important for people like Mumba to understand party and national political norms and craft a potent strategy to achieve personal political goals.”
Political Science Association of Malawi president Mavuto Bamusi said the backlash Mumba is receiving only shows that MCP is intolerant to political reforms and not ready to welcome youthful minds with progressive agendas.
Perceptions of manipulation and favouritism in the conduct of primaries have over the years seen an increase in the number of independent legislators in Parliament as losing candidates in primaries have tended to go solo.
The trend has seen the growth of independent legislators in the 193-seat National Assembly from zero in the first post-independence multiparty general elections in May 1994 to 33 in 2009, 52 in 2014 and 55 in 2019.
Ironically, during the 2019 Tripartite Elections, MCP won 55 parliamentary seats, but bolstered its numbers to 83 after ropping in 28 independents, some of whom had lost in its 2018 primaries.
Opposition Democratic Progressive Party won 62 seats, but later increased its numbers to 90 upon getting on board some independents as well. However, the numbers dwindled after some members were expelled and others reverted to independents.
