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| National |
| UDF to hold primaries in phases |
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by
Mabvuto Banda, 28 November 2003
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15:30:08
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The UDF has finally decided to hold primaries in two phases: this year in areas where it does not have sitting MPs and after Parliament is dissolved next year in the remaining areas.
Party spokesman Ken Lipenga said on Friday in an interview the party is yet to come up with the dates for the primaries which are phased to bring unity and stop violence.
Tension is high in the ruling party between aspirants and sitting MPs which has resulted into violence in especially in some parts of its Southern Region stronghold.
UDF secretary General Kennedy Makwangwala earlier warned the party’s aspiring candidates to stop campaigning, saying the national executive committee decided not to go by the January 31, 2004 deadline set by the Electoral Commission for political parties to hold primaries because it was not practical.
“The Nec decided that it was only logical to hold the primaries when Parliament is dissolved,” said Makwangwala.
Lipenga condemned Makwangala’s warning to aspiring candidates saying that it was a wrong approach because the party has no hidden agenda.
The Constitution sets March 20 as the day when Parliament should be dissolved and elections to be held between May and June.
Last month Dave Ngulinga, who is aspiring for a parliamentary seat, and his supporters were beaten when he tried to hold a rally at Msosa in the South’s Machinga Likwenu constituency. A house belonging to his supporter was burnt down and Ngulinga’s car was smashed by supporters from the sitting MP, Rodson Jangiya.
Sitting MPs are also being challenged in other areas of the South. A survey by Nation Online revealed that Elywin Maluwa’s Blantyre City South, Nicolous Kachingwe’s Blantyre West, Andrew Chiwoza’s Zomba Central, Samuel Kaphuka’s Blantyre City West, Fidson Chisesere’s Blantyre City East, Isaak Mdoka’s Blantyre Bangwe are some of the constituencies where the incumbent MPs are being challenged by aspirants. |
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