By Chisomo Phiri
The country’s electoral body Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it is investigating a complaint that Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Willard Gwengwe who is leading unofficial results for Dedza Central Constituency By-election was going around polling stations as voting was in progress on Thursday.
Addressing the press in Dedza after the close of voting on Thursday, MEC Chairperson Chifundo Kachale, said the electoral body will also probe claims of an unregistered person, voting in the same by-election.
Kachale, a judge of the High Court of Malawi, said MEC has received a complaint from one of the contesting parties about Gwengwe’s conduct.
He said MEC will look into the issue and determine whether it has impacted the outcome of the election.
“On that incident, we require our presiding officers to actually give us comprehensive incident reports as part of the final report for the polling.
“We will assess the evidence on that issue and make a determination whether that conduct has impacted the result of the poll and that will be determined when we meet as a commission to determine the results tomorrow,” said Kachale.
The Dedza Central Constituency seat fell vacant after the death of former legislator Daniel Chiwere in July this year.
Three candidates, namely Gwengwe, Andrew Kowedza of DPP and independent Jacob Kaumphawi tussled in the trace.
Unofficial elections results this evening have put Gwengwe ahead followed by Kaumphawi, with Kowedza trailing a distant third.
