Usi, others declared winners in UTM primaries
The newly-formed UTM Party has declared its director of strategic planning Michael Usi and other candidates winners of primary elections following botched polls in their constituencies last week.
Others that have been declared winners are Lewis Ng’oma, whose contender was former legislator Anita Kalinde in Thyolo North, while in Mwanza Central, Lucy Kampezeni was declared winner against Moses Watola.
The party had initially announced it would hold the primaries in all 193 constituencies and 452 wards nationwide simultaneously on Thursday, but misunderstandings in some areas and logistical challenges in others resulted in the cancellation and postponement of some elections.
The party’s declaration means Usi is now UTM torchbearer in Mulanje Central, where misunderstandings emerged with his rival Damson Chelewani over the electoral venue.
Chelewani and his supporters gathered at Chisitu Primary School ground, claiming it was the right venue while his rival Usi, popularly known as Manganya, and his supporters gathered at Ntenjera ground in the constituency.
Usi will face incumbent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member of Parliament (MP) Kondwani Nankhumwa who is also Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and DPP vice-president for the South.
UTM director of elections Paul Chibingu said in an interview yesterday the party’s primary elections committee declared Usi as the winner following an assessment of a report from elections presiding officers on the cause of the postponement.
He said: “According to reports from the presiding officers, Mr Chelewani flouted the party’s primary elections law because the district governor recommended that the primary election be held at Ntenjera ground where Mr. Usi and his supporters gathered. Mr. Chelewani and his supporters gathered at Chisitu, which was contrary to the official venue; hence, declaring Usi a winner.”
Chibingu said the committee also resolved to conduct primary elections in all the areas where the primary polls were postponed between yesterday (Sunday) and Tuesday (tomorrow).
He said in Salima North West, whose incumbent MP Jessie Kabwila joined UTM two weeks ago after ditching main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), and Rumphi Central where violence erupted resulting in the injury of a presiding officer, will have their primary elections on Thursday.
Among other areas where UTM primary elections were postponed are Mchinji, Dowa and Salima districts, Lilongwe City South, Ntcheu Central, Rumphi Central and North, and Ntcheu Bwanje constituencies.
As we went to press yesterday, Chibingu said the party had received results from 126 constituencies.
He expressed optimism that by Thursday this week, his office will have results from all the193 constituencies.
Last Thursday, UTM Party, whose leader is Vice-President Saulos Chilima, conducted nationwide primary elections which were marred by chaos in some constituencies over electoral colleges.
Some members have since quit UTM to contest as independent MPs.
Among other members who have shown interest to stand as independent candidates after losing primary elections are Blantyre City South MP Allan Ngumuya, who is also UTM deputy national organising secretary, who lost to Mabvuto Missi; Biggles Katenga-Kaunda, who lost to the party’s regional governor for the South Steve Mikaya in Blantyre City West; and Lucius Chanika, who lost to former Cabinet minister Henry Phoya in Blantyre Rural East.
