MBC reporters deployed in the three areas say voting has started on a low note as the exercise opens at 6 in the morning.
NKHATABAY CENTRAL
MBC Reporter Chimwemwe Milulu said “voting has started at a good but slow pace.
At Nkhata Bay Town Hall which is the main polling centre with 2733 registered voters, there were fewer than 10 people who were waiting to cast their vote by the time the exercise started few minutes after 6AM.”
In the area, Three candidates are contesting in the poll, namely Gabriel Phillip Chirwa of the United Democratic Front (UDF), Symon Vuwa Kaunda representing the Democratic Progressive Party, (DPP) and the People's Party flag carrier, Raphael Mhone, who has been supported by all partners in the Tonse Alliance during campaign.
Over 17,000 people registered in the Constituency.
The Nkhata Bay Parliamentary seat fell vacant when the Supreme Court nullified the constituency's 2019 poll result where Symon Vuwa Kaunda was declared winner. His main contender, Raphael Joseph Mhone challenged the result.
NSANJE LALANJE WARD
“In some poling centers, the voting process delayed, because most of the voters were showing up after the set time of for opening. At Lalanje Primary School polling center, for instance, people started to cast their votes at around 6:15. Most poling centers are facing a low turnout,” reported MBC’s Owen Mavula
Four Candidates are vying for the seat in the area and these are Abdulhakeen Hassan of Malawi Congress Party- MCP, Fraction Lapozo independent, Gerald Paul- Democratic Progressive Party - DPP, Henry Benford SEDA independent.
Lalanje ward in Nsanje has a total of 17 thousand 937 registered voters, with twenty five polling stations.
The local government by elections follows the death of the wards counselor
CHIKWEMBERE WARD
MBC Reporter Charles Chindongo said: “In Chikwembere Ward, Blantyre North voting has started on a low note in some of the polling centres as few voters turned out to cast their votes. For instance at Mdeka and Namitsitsi Primary Schools only a handful were present at 6 am to cast their vote. At least 18 000 voters are expected to cast their vote to choose a councilor.”
Six candidates have expressed interest to occupy the vacant seat in Blantyre North.
The six are: Joyce Chimkwita who is standing on independent ticket, Flossie Hera of Democratic Progressive Party - DPP, Nelson Kalumbi of UTM, Wyson Makungwa - MCP, Jacks Nkhoma - UDF and Benny Samson also on an independent ticket. The seat in Blantyre North especially Chikwembere Ward fell vacant after the death of Mathews Jirani.
