Aspirants panic over primaries
With barely four months to the deadline for submitting nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), political parties have come under pressure from some aspiring members of Parliament (MPs) to hold primary polls.
The mounting pressure comes at a time all the major political parties, including the People’s Party (PP), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), are yet to set specific dates for the primary polls to choose their candidates in the 193 constituencies across the country.
In an interview on Monday, MEC chief elections officer Willie Kalonga said all candidates aspiring for parliamentary or local government seats are expected to submit their nomination papers to the commission at the end of January 2014, meaning that parties are currently remaining with about four months to identify their candidates in all the constituencies.
UDF spokesperson Ken Ndanga on Monday confirmed that the party is getting pressure from aspirants to hold primary elections for parliamentary candidates.
However, he said the party is yet to decide on the specific dates for the primaries.
Said Ndanga: “We only have a plan to hold these elections around October. Unfortunately, we have to discuss the issue as a party. The next UDF NEC [national executive committee] meeting will discuss that.
“The members are pressing for primaries. But while there is that pressure, we need to make sure that we follow all procedures and ensure that the primaries are free and fair. We don’t want to create independents on account that the elections were not free and fair.”
PP deputy spokesperson Ken Msonda yesterday also said his party is yet to set dates for the primaries, accusing aspirants who have been complaining as having questionable motives for joining the party.
Said Msonda: “We haven’t come up with the dates, but preparations are in the final stages. These primaries will be done in all constituencies. There are a lot of things we need to do in terms of logistics and setting up of the electoral college.
“Anybody who is spending resources on their campaign should do so with their heart on the party and not on the position. We don’t want people who are going to quit PP once they lose in the primaries. There is a misconception on the ground that people are just saying they want to stand on PP ticket.
“Some people also think that we will not do primaries in some constituencies.”
DPP publicity secretary Nicholas Dausi yesterday said DPP is also still undecided on the dates for holding the primary elections in the 193 constituencies.
“We will hold primary elections at an appropriate time. If anybody has problems with the time frame, they should approach us,” said Dausi, doubting whether those complaining about delayed primaries are genuine DPP members.
MCP secretary general Chris Daza said while MCP has not set specific dates for holding primary elections, the party intends to hold the elections from mid November.
“By end of November, we expect to complete all the primaries in all the constituencies. We have given September and October for people to campaign,” said Daza.
Several aspirants The Nation spoke to complained that they are being forced to spend more on their campaigns to avoid being overtaken by their opponents.
