UTM Continues Losing National Political Footprint; Features Only 61 Constituencies

UTM Party on Sunday started conducting primaries in constituencies where the party has two or more candidates seeking its ticket in the September 16 General Election.

Publicity Secretary Felix Njawala said in an interview on Sunday that there are 61 constituencies out of 229 where primaries will be held. He said primaries were set to start in Chitipa, Karonga and in Neno East Constituency on Sunday.

“For some constituencies where the party has one candidate, we already conducted an endorsement process,” said Njawala. Other constituencies where the party intends to conduct primaries include Mzuzu City East, Mzimba Central, Mzimba Perekezi, Kasungu Bua Ntchisi South, Lilongwe City Masintha, Ntcheu Central and Zomba Central.

The UTM primary elections will end on June 5 2025, five days before the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) opens the nomination process for local government and parliamentary elections.

On the other hand, the United Democratic Front (UDF) expects to start conducting primary elections this week following the closure of the period for receiving nominations from aspirants on May 30 2025.

The calendar for the September 16 2025 General Elections shows that MEC will receive nomination papers for parliamentary and presidential candidates between July 1 and July 5 2025.

Share With:

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Comments

Related News

No Cabinet Minister from Blantyre

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP ) legislator for Blantyre City South East, Hon. Sameer Suleman, has expressed disappointment over the lack of government ministers representing Blantyre, saying the situation is very pathetic in a democratic nation. He made the remarks at a DPP political rally held yesterday at Bangwe-Desert ground in Blantyre. Suleman said if the DPP wins the next election, they will hold President Lazarus Chakwera and his entire cabinet accountable. He accused the current government ministers of embezzlement and claimed they are obstructing arrest warrants.

Lilongwe, Malawi

Kamlepo Ready to Apologize to AFORD For the Alleged K5 Billion Alliance Deal with MCP

Member of Parliament(MP ) for Rumphi East, Kamlepo Kalua, has expressed readiness to apologize to the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) over remarks he previously made, alleging that the party received K5 billion from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to join its political alliance. Kalua told us in an interview that his decision to offer an apology stems from a place of humanity and a desire to promote unity within the country. This comes after AFORD gave Kalua a seven-day ultimatum to either present concrete evidence for his claims or publicly retract and apologize.

Lilongwe, Malawi

MEC’s Rejection of ICT Audit Request Irks Parties; DPP VP (South) Endorses Mass of Demonstrations

The former governing Democratic Progressive Party says it is ready to lead mass demonstrations against MEC’s rejection of ICT audit some opposition political parties had requested and it’s insistence of the use of Election Management Devices (EMD) in the 2025 election. The warning was sounded by DPP Vice President for the Southern Region Hon. Joseph Mwanamvekha during a rally the party held over the weekend at Desert Ground in Bangwe Township. There are unprecedented loud calls from opposition parties for ICT audit ahead of the September 16 polls but MEC remain stiff-necked. Apart from DPP, two other opposition parties Aford and UDF have also raised serious concerns over the same issue. The former finance minister lambasted the government for its bad economic management which has resulted in acute shortage of forex thereby impacting negatively on the performance of the private sector. Mwanamveka outlined DPP’s first mammoth task when the party returns to power, revitalizing the economy, revamping Admarc and NFRA are among the priorities. Mwanamveka said devaluation of the Kwacha brings more misery to the citizenry and it has never bitten a solution anywhere in the world, this was in reference to last year’s 44% devaluation which the Reserve Bank implemented which has brought profound suffering to Malawians. Asked by reporters about the healthy of DPP leader Prof Arthur Peter Mutharika, Mwanamveka denied rumors that Mutharika is sick and said the former president is in robust healthy. “Those spreading the rumor are afraid of Mutharika because he is the front runner in the presidential race”- Mwanamveka added. He also says APM Is Alive, Well and fit to be DPP or Alliance Torch Bearer. The rally was well attended and DPP senior officials in the southern region, shadow MPs and Councilors were in attendance.

Lilongwe, Malawi

Armed MCP Msundwe Thugs Attack DPP Members in Dedza; One Thug Dies, 20 Injured

The so called Msundwe Barracks Cadres that killed a police officer Imedi, hack with panga knives, harass and beat supporters of other political parties in central region during the post election violent demonstration in 2020 continue their violent attacks against members of the opposition DPP in the Region. Reports coming in indicate that there was chaos at Chimbiya where MCP cadres from Msundwe were busy removing DPP flags and this did not go well with people in the area. Though MCP Msundwe cadres were armed with guns, irate people defended themselves and killed one Msundwe Gangster in the process while shouting, “We don’t want Chakwera”. Incidence of political violence is a new normal in the central region where other political parties are not allowed to operate in the region. There have been a couple of violent incidences that have not been addressed by the police to date. During the 6th Public Affairs Committee Conference which was held in the commercial capital city of Blantyre from the 20th-21st September 2025, participants pleaded with the Malawi Police Service to enhance security which in turn would ensure more public participation in politics and elections The opposition Democratic Progressive Party DPP through its Director of Elections, Commissioner Dr Jean Mathanga asked the Malawi police service to be as much professional as possible in order to repair its damaged reputation and trust. Dr Mathanga also appealed to the police to arrest perpetrators of political violence and devise it’s security plans in those areas deemed political violence hotspots. She pointed out that among the areas identified as political violence hotspots, Lilongwe Central, Nsundwe, Mzuzu, Karonga, Nkhotakota Central and Nsanje Lalanje featured highly and need special attention. When Alliance for Democracy – AFORD was given the floor, the party’s Director of Elections David Brown Katete condemned the Malawi police for carrying out arbitrary arrest of opposition members only while those from the governing Malawi Congress Party go scort free and enjoy police protection. The Inspector General of the Malawi Police Service, madam Merylyne Yolamu said her organization is doing all it can to stem political violence but admits that there are challenges. She said behind every political violence, there are visible and invisible hands and this is what sometimes, delays arrests. MCP under Chakwera sent a good number of youths mostly from Msundwe to be trained in paramilitary activities at Msakataka Police Training School for obvious reasons. Meanwhile, reports indicate that atleast one MCP Msundwe Thug has been killed and 20 others injured in the fracas by people who are chanting; “Chakwera Must Go”. The victims are receiving medical attention at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe. Publicity Secretary for MCP, Jessie Kabwila says, she is suspecting that DPP members are the ones who have injured members of the Malawi Congress Party MCP who attacked innocent people attending a rally organized by DPP Vice President for the Centre, Hon. Alfred Gangata. Details of the story will be covered in our subsequent reports.

Lilongwe, Malawi