MP Njobvuyalema loses to Chileka in MCP primary elections: 2 councillors floored

Veteran politician and incumbent legislator for Lilongwe Mapuyu South, Joseph Njobvuyalema, on Thursday became the first big casualty of main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP)  to lose in the ongoing primary elections to identify candidates to represent the party in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.

Njobvuyalema lost the primary elections to youth activist Edward Chileka-Banda (37-year-old)  in primary elections held at Kang’onga Primary School in the constituency.

Chileka Banda, who failed in his bid to represent MCP in 2014 polled  470 votes against Njobvuyalema’s 320, according to the official results confirmed by party Central Region chairperson Patrick Chilondola.

Another contestant, Stella Kathumba, polled 50 votes.

Njobvuyalema could not immediately comment about his loss.

But Chileka-Banda,  who currently works with Action Aid Malawi,  described his victory as “the will of the people.”

He said : “The feeling is so good and, at the same time, it’s a lesson to young people.”

MCP is holding primary elections in the Central Region, where Malawi Electoral Commission’s voter registration exercise was completed.

During the elections, two incumbent councillors also stumbled.  In Kamazi Ward, Dominic Banda defeated Edson Kalonga while, in Kachawa Ward, Lucky Nkasauka triumphed over Gibson Macheso.

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