By Jones Gadama
The High Court in Blantyre has granted an injunction to David Ndakoyiwa, restraining the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from holding a re-run of primary elections in Nsanje South West constituency.
The injunction, granted by Justice Jack Nriva on May 25, 2025, stops the DPP from conducting the re-run until further orders from the court.
According to the court documents, Ndakoyiwa, who won the primary elections held on May 16, 2025, alleges that the DPP’s decision to annul the results without addressing his queries and request for a re-hearing violates his constitutional rights.
The claimant’s lawyer, Bentry Nyondo of Ritz Attorney at Law, confirmed that the injunction was necessary to secure his client’s rights before the hearing of the main action.
The court has scheduled an inter-partes hearing for May 30, 2025, at 11:00 am, where the matter will be further deliberated. DPP officials have yet to comment on the development.
This latest court decision highlights the ongoing tensions within the DPP, particularly with regards to its primary elections.
In similar cases, the High Court has demonstrated its willingness to intervene in electoral disputes, as seen in the nullification of parliamentary elections in Nsanje North, Chikwawa East, and Nsanje Central constituencies in 2021.
The injunction is a significant victory for Ndakoyiwa, who claims that his rights were disregarded by the party.
It remains to be seen how the DPP will respond to the court’s decision and whether the party will comply with the injunction.
As the matter heads to court for further deliberation, stakeholders are eagerly awaiting the outcome, which could have far-reaching implications for the DPP and its primary elections.
The case highlights the importance of upholding the rule of law and respecting the rights of party members in electoral processes.
