Tag Archives: Highton Jiya

Politics

Ballot papers for October 17 by-elections ready-MEC

Maravi Post Reporter
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)- The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) over the weekend disclosed that it has finished printing ballot papers for the October 17 by-elections slated for Lilongwe, Blantyre, Dedza and Nsanje districts.
MEC Director of Media and Public Relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa, said the ballot papers are currently being kept at their head office in Blantyre and awaiting dispatch to the respective district councils this coming weekend.
In a press statement made available to the Maravi Post, the MEC reminds all contesting political parties, candidates, and civil society organisations (CSOs), to send their monitors to witness the delivery process, including the opening of the room where the ballot papers are being kept.
The Commission said that the dispatch and arrival in the councils as well as the pre-inspection exercise will take place consecutively.
MEC added that pre-inspection of polling materials in all the polling stations will be held on October 16, where presiding officers shall open the materials to check if they are in good order and quantity.
“On October 15, the ballot papers and other polling materials shall be dispatched to the polling centres from the councils.
Political parties and candidates are advised to send their monitors to witness this exercise, which starts from 9am at the council offices,” reads the statement.
In Nsanje Lalanje and Lilongwe Msozi North, the by-elections are being held following the death of former parliamentarians Sam Ganda of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Highton Jiya (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) respectively.
In Lilongwe South East, the by-elections are as a result of the Supreme Court of Appeal order to have a re-run after nullifying the 2014 outcome.
Malawi

MCP lawmaker Highton Jiya no more

Maravi Post correspondent

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—sorrow has engulfed the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) family following the demise of one of their officials Highton Jiya, who was until his death Member of Parliament (MP) for Lilongwe Msozi North.

According to MCP parliamentary Chief whip Lobin Lowe, Jiya has died in the early hours of 2 January, 2017.

Jiya: no more

“Yes its true Honourable Jiya who was the MP for Lilongwe Misozi North died on Sunday at Mwayiwathu hospital in Blantyre as a party we will miss him because of his greater contributions he was making in Parliament especially on Land related matters because of his experience that he tapped after working at length at lands ministry,” said Lowe in an interview with local media.

District Commissioner for Lilongwe Charles Makanga said Jiya died at Mwaiwathu hospital in Blantyre where he was receiving treatment.

“I have just received news of the death of honourable Jiya. I am yet to receive information surrounding his death and programme for his burial. His remains are still in Blantyre,” said Makanga.

The remains of late Jiya will be taken to Lilongwe for burial at his home village in Nathenje area in the district.

This is the second MP that MCP has lost after losing another one in Mchinji, Kanjira Banda but the seat was retained by MCP following the triumph of Jepther Mwale.