BALLOT PAPERS FOR BY-ELECTIONS READY

In an interview with ZBS on Tuesday, the Malawi Electoral Commission Head of Electoral Services, Mr. Henzli Munkhondia, said the printing of the ballot papers for the by-elections in the two districts started on Monday.

According to the electoral calendar, the Electoral Commission was expected to conduct public debate with the parliamentary aspirants.

Mr. Munkhondia said that the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) has already conducted the debate for Mangochi Malombe constituency, while EC will hold the public debate in Dowa South East constituency on 8 October.

Four aspirants are contesting in the Dowa South East constituency by-election; namely, Halima Daudi of the Democratic Progressive Party; Tarscizio Yetala of the United Democratic Front; Alfred Chika of the Malawi Congress Party; and Dalitso Likoloma, an independent.

In Mangochi Malombe, five candidates have lined up for by-election: Akidu Malick of the UDF; Romeo Bwanali of the DPP.

And Aubrey Matumula, Durban Chibwana, and James Chikwenga are contesting as independents.

Dowa South East constituency fell vacant following the death of DPP MP Hastings Chitsamba in January this year; while Mangochi Malombe became vacant after the death of UDF MP, Hillary Ajinga in December last year.