Zomba City fails to elect mayor

Zomba City Council yesterday failed to elect a new mayor when councillors demanded that the voting exercise should be re-run in the next full council meeting.

The council’s acting chief executive officer Mussa Mwale confirmed that the re-run was called for because councillor Christopher Jana of Mpira Ward and councillor Eric Lipenga of Mchenga Ward tied at four votes each.
When the results were released, some councillors blamed the tie on Zomba Central member of Parliament (MP) Patricia Kainga’s absence who did not vote, citing parliamentary obligations.
Zomba City deputy mayor Davie Maunde, who was presiding officer for the elections, said they have nullified the current results after consultations with council members and asked those willing to contest in the future elections to register at the chambers secretariat.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is failing to conduct elections in five wards due to funding problems.
Zomba City Council is electing a new mayor to complete the term of the late Joana Ntaja who died on March 8 2015.