MCP pulls out of Mzimba Central race, Mumba, Mkandawire to battle as independents

The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has announced that it will not field a candidate in the upcoming parliamentary race for Mzimba Central Constituency, following unresolved internal disputes over the legitimacy of its primary elections.

The development comes in the wake of a recent Mzuzu High Court ruling that nullified the party’s earlier primaries due to irregularities and ordered a fresh vote by Sunday, July 27. However, the party failed to meet the court’s deadline, effectively disqualifying itself from nominating a candidate under its banner.

Later, Vitumbiko Mumba, one of the candidates, through his lawyer, Khumbo Soko, wrote to the party’s Director of Legal Affairs, proposing that all MCP aspirants in the constituency should contest as independents.

In response, MCP Director of Legal Affairs, George Jivason Kadzipatike, confirmed the party’s withdrawal from the race, while clarifying that the two primary contenders, Mumba and Adamson Kuseri Mkandawire, are free to contest as independents.

“Following this development, the Party will indeed not field any Parliamentary Candidate in Mzimba Central Constituency, and as such Hon Vitumbiko Mumba and Hon Adamson Mkandawire are at liberty to contest as Independent Candidates,” stated Kadzipatike.

He further stated that both individuals will remain members of the party and will not face any disciplinary consequences for running outside the MCP ticket.

MCP officials had in May declared Mkandawire the winner with 262 votes against Mumba’s 5, but Mumba contested that no proper elections had taken place at Katunguwiru Primary School, where the primaries were purportedly held.

High Court Judge Justus Kishindo agreed with Mumba’s position and directed the party to hold fresh primary elections by July 27. MCP’s failure to comply has now paved the way for an independent showdown between the two contenders.