By Burnett Munthali
Annie Chibwana, one of the contenders in the recent Malawi Congress Party (MCP) primary elections in the Dowa Central constituency, has formally written to the party’s leadership, calling for the nullification of the election results.
Chibwana alleges that the elections, which took place recently in Malawi’s central region, were fraught with irregularities that compromised their credibility.
In her letter to the party’s senior officials, Chibwana questioned the legitimacy of the outcome and demanded that the results be declared void.
She cited inconsistencies between the number of votes cast and the number of registered voters expected to participate in the election.
According to Chibwana, 1,844 ballots were cast, surpassing the official figure of 1,421 eligible voters drawn from 159 area committees.

She claims this discrepancy is a clear indication of over-voting and possible electoral malpractice.
Chibwana, who secured 808 votes, lost to the incumbent Member of Parliament, Darlington Harawa, who received 1,001 votes.
She further expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency in the lead-up to the voting process.
A key concern raised by Chibwana was the MCP’s failure to provide her with the official list of delegates from area committees eligible to vote.
She argued that, without access to this register, it is impossible to confirm whether those who voted were legitimate delegates.
This lack of documentation, she believes, casts doubt on the credibility and fairness of the entire electoral process.
Chibwana stressed that she has made multiple requests for this information, all of which have either been ignored or dismissed.
She maintained that her challenge is not rooted in personal defeat but in a commitment to defend the integrity and democratic values of the MCP.
Responding to the situation, MCP Director of Elections Dr. Elias Chakwera stated that the party’s headquarters has not yet received any official complaint regarding the election.
Nevertheless, he assured the public and party members that the MCP will take appropriate action once the complaint is formally received and reviewed.
Dr. Chakwera reaffirmed the party’s commitment to transparency, pledging that all credible allegations will be thoroughly investigated.
As tensions simmer within the party, the Dowa primary elections have exposed underlying issues that demand urgent attention from the MCP leadership.
With the 2025 general elections fast approaching, how the party handles such internal disputes will be critical to preserving unity and public confidence.
Whether the leadership addresses Chibwana’s concerns or lets the results stand will ultimately serve as a test of the MCP’s dedication to internal democracy and accountability.