Tag Archives: MCP Mzuzu City North Parliamentary aspirant Mkandawire

Law and order, Politics

Cash handouts land MCP Mzuzu City North Parliamentary aspirant Mkandawire in hot-soup

Maravi Post Reporter

By Ezlon Ngwata

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The Young Human Rights Defenders Network is calling on the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to disqualify the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary candidate Mkandawire for Mzuzu City North Constituency for flouting the electoral laws.

On Tuesday, August 2, 2025 the aspiring parliamentary candidate was caught red-handed dismissing out cash handouts to electorates with the aim of swaying them to vote for him.

Briefing the media in Mzuzu on Wednesday, Chairperson of the Network, Mervin Nxumayo said what Mkandawire was doing is punishable by the country’s legal provisions hence no need to spare him in the promotion of issue-based elections and level the playing field for all candidates.

“He must be disqualified now, how can one become a lawmaker when he has already demonstrated a behaviour contrary to the Office he is vying for?” queried Nxumayo.

Nxumayo expressed disappointment with the aspiring lawmaker, revealed that MEC also spared him when he was caught with truckloads of people ferried from Mzimba south-east constituency to be registered to vote for him in Mzuzu City constituency.

“We are watching every step of the way leading to the 16th September elections, you may wish to be reminded that the same candidate was caught ferrying people from Mzimba south-east constituency to be registered in Mzuzu City North,” added Nxumayo.

The HRDN chairperson also cautioned the electoral body (MEC) to act on this matter promptly, giving only 48 hours or else threaten to take unspecified action.

Mkandawire refused to comment on the matter when he was disrupted from continuing dishing out money by the visiting media practitioners.

Meanwhile, an official at the Malawi Electoral Commission in Mzuzu acknowledged having received a complaint but referred the matter to the Chief Elections Officer for clarification.

“Call the Chief Elections Officer, but I can confirm that someone raised that complaint and he was advised accordingly,” she said before hanging the call.

In Malawi, candidates who give handouts to sway voters can face serious penalties in Accordance with the Political Parties Act, specifically Section 41 (1), such candidates can be fined up to K10 million or imprisoned for five years upon conviction.