JB tops ballot paper for presidential candidates

The ruling People’s Party (PP) presidential candidate, President Joyce Banda tops the list of presidential candidates on the ballot paper Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) is currently printing outside the country.

The appearing of Banda on the top of the list gives an advantage to the PP torch-bearer to outwit the other 11 presidential contestants during May 20th elections.

According to a sample ballot paper Mec has published in daily newspapers, Banda leads the list of presidential candidates based on her surname and is followed by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president, Lazarus Chakwera on second position.

Petra’s Kamuzu Walter Chibambo is on third position with United Democratic Front (UDF) youthful candidate, Atupele Muluzi on 8th and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president, Peter Mutharika on 9th position.

George Nnesa of Tisinthe Alliance is on 7th and Abusa Helen Sigh of United Independence Party (UIP) is on last position.

Mec Media and Public Relations Manager, Sangwani Mwafulirwa in an interview disclosed that all political parties in the country endorsed the ballot paper layout before it was sent out for printing.

Candidate names, according to Mec, will appear on Parliamentary, Presidential and Local Government elections ballot papers based on alphabetical order of their surnames.

“The Commission has published this sample ballot paper to afford all stakeholders an opportunity to appreciate how the ballot paper looks like. This will also help political parties to educate their supporters on how to vote for their candidates,” reads part of sample ballot paper advert.

Mwafulirwa said the printing of ballot papers currently underway in undisclosed country is being financed by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under Basket Fund.

Several stakeholders including political parties representatives through Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) are observing the printing process.

Malawi is expected to hold Tripartite Elections on May 20th with 12 presidential candidates fighting for the country’s presidency.

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