By Twink Jones Gadama
Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary General Grezelda Jeffrey has expressed interest in contesting the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) primaries as a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nkhotakota-Chia constituency.
Jeffrey, who recently defected to the MCP, made her intentions official by availing herself at the party’s headquarters on Monday.
She will face competition from other aspirants, including Olivia Mchanju Liwewe, a former Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioner, Ausmane Chunga, and Brainax Kaise, the current MP for the area.
Gaziel Chimzere, the current councillor for the area, has also joined the race and will compete in the party’s primaries.
Some of the contestants have pledged to concede defeat and support the winner if the elections are conducted in a free and fair manner.
In a related development, Peter Mazizi, the MP for Nkhotakota Central, also appeared before the party’s headquarters and is expected to compete with Susan Namangale Kakota.
The MCP’s primaries are expected to be highly contested, with several aspirants vying for the party’s ticket.
The outcome of the primaries will determine who will represent the party in the upcoming general elections.
Meanwhile, Zeliya Chakale, the former DPP vice president for the central region, and Calista Chapola, the former first lady to the late Bingu wa Mutharika, both of whom defected to the MCP, had expressed interest in contesting the party’s primaries but were ultimately defeated.
This development highlights the competitive nature of the MCP’s primaries, where several candidates are vying for a limited number of seats.
The country is preparing for the 2025 general elections, which are expected to be highly competitive.
Several parties and independent candidates are vying for seats in the National Assembly.
The MCP, which has been in power since 2020, is expected to face stiff competition from opposition parties.
The party’s ability to retain its seats will depend on several factors, including the popularity of its candidates and the party’s performance in government.
As the country gears up for the elections, the MCP’s primaries are expected to be closely watched.
The outcome of the primaries will have significant implications for the party’s chances in the general elections.
