MCP celebrates hat-trick of by-election victories
Main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has shrugged off divisions over the leadership style of Lazarous Chakwera to score a hat-trick of by-election gains , retaining Mchinji West constituenct and two wards in Dedza and Lilongwe.
MCP won in Mchinji where DPP invested a lot in the campaign which President Peter Mutharika also visited to add weight of support to his deputy Saulos Chilima, who has been going in Mchinji West with Minister of Civic Education as well as high ranking party officials.
Crippling unemployment, economic turmoil and corruption scandals in government led voters to punish the DPP in areas where MCP gained victories,; Mchinje West, Bembeke Ward in Dedza and Kaliyeka Ward in Lilongwe South East Constituency .
Saving some pride, the DPP won in Sadzi Ward in Zomba Central Constituency and Bunda Ward in Kasungu.
“It signals to everyone that the political pendulum in our country is swinging,” MCP director of elections Maxwell Thyolera told Nyasa Times.
He said voters have delivered a stinging rebuke to the DPP.
Thyolera said DPP attempted to fraudntley win the by-elections but their party machinery were awake not to lose Mchinji parliamentary seat.
He said theMCP victory against DPP which used tax funds for campaign will be a major psychological blow to President Mutharika and the ruling party.
“We have shown that despite some dirty politics against MCP, we are force to reckon with,” he said.
He said the by-elections were a “mini-referendum about the future of Malawi” and that voters have indicated they want change.
The Tuesday’s vote sent a clear message that the electorate cannot be taken for granted.
Despite losing in Zomba, the eastern region, MCP has also shown that it could challenge the ruling DPP in its strongholds.
MCP did also make modest inroads in Zomba.
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Countrymen, I am following the commentaries on the by-elections with keen interest. In my view, the results have just shown that the country is still divided on regional/tribal lines. For those who don’t know Central Region very well should know that this region is dominated by the Chewa (and their cousins called Mang’anjas/Nyanja’s in the South) people (and I am one of them) who, historically, are usually not mobile. Being majorly farmers, they live within their communities, till their land, enjoy their plenty forms of entertainment and life goes on and on. Any history book you will read will show… Read more »
So what is Binnwell talking about here? Did Theu win on an independent ticket? Theu and the family chose DPP as a party in which they can show their humility to people and fortunately people are following suit. Otherwise people would have told the young Theu that they are no more in love with the party so he should stand as an independent they will still vote for him. But the people there after making a win to his DPP father they also encouraged the young Theu to stand on the same DPP and make him win. Looking at the… Read more »
kkkkkkkk akuti anapita kukabera ku Nchinji DPP siyizatheka ndithu. kuba basi ziyalu
So Binwell taking your argument for Bunda ward in kasungu and apply it in Mchinji and Dedza that also had MCP representative and are just replaced by MCP reps as well it means there is nothing to rejoice for in this elections. However, lets us focus on votes acquired by the losers. It will tell you who is strong
Those who dont read and follow pattern of events are the ones who are giving out silly comments on this page. Bunda ward in Kasungu had a dpp councillor Theu who died sometime back, the winning candidate is a son to that former councillor and he won with 600 (six hundred ) votes only. The point is not that of dpp being strong but people felt it good to award the position to son of the deceased as a continuation of the good behaviour of the theu family. So what mattered most is the personnel here not the party. In… Read more »
To us from the DPP fraternity,this is a plus.As we have managed to get votes in the central region up to 4 thousand,while MCP under chakwera has never amassed votes up to 500 in any election in the south.This simply shows the south is no go zone for MCP.But because MCP has no strategies when doing things thats why you are celebrating instead of crying,because dpp has own a seat in your stronghood ,which you can not even my manage if one councilor dies today in Thyolo and the government decide to give you all the support.This is why in… Read more »
Congrats Rt Hon Chakwera & the entire team. APMs ego is bruised & Chilima swallows the humble pie. In contrast to failed policies that has crushed the down & trodden vulnerable Malawians. Lens of politics cast a very tight race for Dpp led government & MCP has a lot work to do to gain ground in the South plus regaining Kasungu district where realignment of key party alliances is essential.
Kodi ku kasungu bunda ward nde kuti….aaaa mwayamba chani
Kodi mai Kaliati, alipo???
While I congratulate MCP for the victory I am still not impressed with Malawians who are not prepared to express their anger even in the even of provocation by the ruing elite. This was an opportunity to squeeze DPP, to send a message to them that we can not wait for them to continue the snails pace in development terms. We could have taken advantage of this to preach to them that we are fed up with hiding the seven rotten ministers. We needed to tell them using the ballot that as long as the 577 billion issue remains unresolved… Read more »