Writteen by Richard Kayenda
One of the Presidential candidates, Kwechani Wesuze Nkhoma, who was the first one to present his nomination papers on Thursday morning, has pulled out of the race.
According to a notice of withdrawal that the candidate has written to Malawi Electoral Commission through its Director of Media and Public Relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, Wesuze Nkhoma has withdrawn from the presidential race on personal grounds.
“I would like to inform you that I am no longer taking part in this year’s fresh presidential elections on 2 July, 2020, on personal grounds. Any inconvenience caused is greatly regretted,” reads the letter in part.
Khwechani Wesuze Nkhoma was an independent candidate who was supposed to open the second day of presentation of nomination papers by presidential candidates at 9 o’clock in the morning. This, therefore, means that out of four candidate who were scheduled to present their nomination papers on 7 May, 2020, only three will do the exercise. They are Mr Phunziro Mvula at 10 o’clock, Mr Smart Swira at 2 o’clock and the State President, Arthur Peter Mutharika, who is the last to present his papers at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
Mr Nkhoma has been the second candidate to throw in his towel after Mr Reverend Hadwick Kaliya did the same on Wednesday; and endorsed the alliance of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM whose torchbearer is Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.
This now means seven candidates will appear on the ballot papers, should another independent candidate, Ras Chikomeni Chirwa, fail to present his papers today, as advised by Mec after failing to do so yesterday due to fact that he did not deposit the nomination fee of K2 million and also that he failed to solicit sufficient number of signatures from across the country.