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PP fields more female aspiring MPs

PP_female_candidatesPresident Joyce Banda’s People’s Party (PP) is leading the pack on the number of female aspiring members of Parliament (MPs) with 44 set to battle it out for the race to the 193-seat National Assembly in Lilongwe, according to the official list published by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

The list shows that the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has 41 female aspiring MPs followed by the United Democratic Front (UDF) with 37 and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has 31.

There are 81 females on independent candidates ticket, many of whom were apparently frustrated after losing primary elections in some political parties.

The MEC list also shows that no political party has fielded candidates in all the 193 constituencies.

This is contrary to earlier claims by PP and UDF that they had 193 candidates apiece.

PP is fielding candidates in 192 constituencies, the only exception being Mulanje South West Constituency where the incumbent is George Chaponda of DPP.

On the other hand, DPP has 191 candidates. There are no DPP candidates in Mangochi Nkungulu currently held by Mahamudu Lali of UDF and Rumphi West of Jatula Mkandawire.

UDF is fielding 182 candidates whereas MCP 159. Other parties have fielded a collective total of 131 candidates, according to the statement.

In all, there are 415 independent candidates.

The MEC list shows that MCP has fielded fewer candidates in the Northern and Southern regions. In the Central Region, regarded as its base, MCP has no candidate in Salima North West after its aspirant Jessie Kabwila was disqualified by MEC for reportedly not resigning from her job as lecturer in the University of Malawi (Unima).

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