Four-way race in Rumphi central by-elections
By Felie Mzumara, Nyasa Times
Four candidates have been approved by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) after meeting all the requirements to contest in the Rumphi Central Constituency by-elections scheduled for September 06, 2011.
MEC Public Relations Officer (PRO) Aubrey Sumbuleta, the four candidates are McDowell Steven Aaron Chidumba Mkandawire of the newly-registered Peoples Party (PP) of which its President is Vice President of the Republic of Malawi Joyce Banda, Enoch Chihana of Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), Peter Chihana of the Peoples Development Movement (PDM) and Norman Malondanimaso Nyirenda of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
“We have submitted their names to the District Commissioner (DC) in the area,” said Sumbuleta.
All of them have met the legal requirements to contest as Parliamentary candidates during the forthcoming by-elections,” he said.
The official campaign for the by-elections started on the 11th of August 2011 after we announced the contestants and this will run up to 4th September 2011.
Rumphi district commissioner (DC) Rodrick Mateauma , meanwhile said stakeholders want free and fair elections.
“This time, the whole nation will be looking at us to see how we are going to handle this exercise,” Mateauma told a multiparty liaison committee meeting in the district recently .
Rumphi Central constituency fell vacant in August last year after death of its parliamentarian, Professor Moses Chirambo who also served as Minister of Health in the current Bingu wa Mutharika’s led administration.
