Bande wins in PP primaries
Minister of Mining John Bande on Wednesday trounced Lucy Saini during People’s Party (PP) primary elections for Blantyre City East Constituency.
PP secretary general Paul Mauludi and Bande confirmed the news in separate interviews on Wednesday.
Maulidi said Bande got 4 900 votes against Saini’s 800 .
“Bande’s landslide victory is clear indication that works of his hands in the constituency are speaking. He is development conscious and dedicated to the PP, loyal to President Joyce Banda,” said one of the PP members who voted.
But Minister of Lands and Housing, Henry Duncan Phoya had his Blantyre Rural East Constituency results wtheld after his challenger Steven Mijiga refused to accept the results.
Phoya was endorsed by party structures to represent the party during the May 2014 polls.
However, when Phoya was leading by 5, 300 votes against Mijig’s 1800 , his challenger protested that there were “irregularities.”
Mijiga could not accept the defeat and lodged a complaint which returning officer Bisika said he would leave the task to announce the results to the party secretariat.
However, according to the votes, it was clear Phoya has floored his challengers who included Sambalikagwa Mvona.
PP vice president for the South Sidik Mia, recently said PP expects its members to remain loyal to the party even after losing the primaries.
