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| National |
| Losers in UDF primaries go to court |
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by
Mc Donald Chapalapata and Joseph Langa, 10 February 2004
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20:29:07
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Aspiring members of Parliament who were declared losers in the ongoing United Democratic Front (UDF) primary elections have cried and some have gone to the court to get injunctions amid allegations of widespread irregularities.
Lewis Kadammanja, who won primary elections for Chiradzulu North Constituency held on January 29 with 245 votes while his closest contender a Mr S F Nthenda had 191 votes, was surprised to learn that the result sheet had been altered to indicate that he lost to Nthenda.
Kadammanja said in an interview Tuesday when he checked the primary elections report with Chiradzulu UDF District Officials he found that the form, which he signed together with the team leader of the elections Ludoviko Shati, had been altered to give him 145 votes.
The primary elections form signed by Shati clearly shows the alteration of the figure on Kadammanja’s result from 245 to 145.
Shati could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Another disgruntled aspiring MP for Blantyre Rural East Sambalikagwa Mvona also rushed to the High Court Tuesday to get an injunction, saying the primary elections which were won by incumbent MP Henry Phoya were irregular.
“Phoya took all the voters to a certain place and we did not see them until voting time. He also influenced officials to change the venue of the elections from Mudi School ground to Malimba school which is bushy and not conducive for elections,” said Mvona.
He also alleged that Phoya brought in people from Zomba Thondwe constituency and Thyolo to vote in the primary elections.
Phoya denied the allegations Tuesday, saying his constituency is closely knit and any stranger would be easily noticed by the constituents.
He confirmed that he had to accommodate his supporters at a certain place to strategise in the primary elections, saying there is nothing wrong with that “because they are my supporters and wanted to be with me”.
“But I can understand how Mvona is feeling because he started campaigning in June 2003... People should not spend their last penny on politics. If you want to spend money, use excess money because if you spend your last penny on elections and lose, you will start behaving the way Mvona is behaving,” said Phoya.
Meanwhile, Lilongwe based businessman Adden Mbowani, who was contesting against UDF presidential running mate Cassim Chilumpha in Nkhotakota South constituency, has disputed reports that Chilumpha won the primaries unopposed, alleging that some Young Democrats loyal to his rival smashed his car to stop him from contesting.
He identified some of the Young Democrats as some officials from the regional youth wing (names withheld) and people associated with the incumbent parliamentarian.
Mbowani showed the reporter the deflated tyres and a receipt for the pick up windscreen he replaced after one was smashed.
“I am therefore surprised that there are reports that Dr Chilumpha won when everyone in the constituency, including the running mate himself, knows that I was blocked by people who smashed my car stole my public address system and are now after my life,” he said.
Efforts to get a comment from Chilumpha proved futile because his phone could not be reached.
Mbowani said he is waiting for the police to take action and arrest the Young Democrats for malicious damage because he said the evidence is clear.
He also demanded action from the party, warning that failing which he will run as an independent candidate and embarrass Chilumpha.
“I have sought advice from my lawyers Lexon and Lords through lawyer Manuel Theu who has advised me to wait for the action from police before I could take legal action,” he said. Theu confirmed to have given him advice.
Elsewhere, Kasungu northwest MP Bamani Zgambo said Tuesday he was also barred by some Young Democrats loyal to the party’s National Youth Director Henry Moyo who roughed him up and threatened to kill him if he went to the venue of primaries.
The MP alleged that several of his supporters were also beaten up and some were rushed to the hospital where they were admitted after sustaining serious stab wounds. He said he reported the matter to the police .
Zgambo said the elections went ahead without him and the other aspirants and Moyo was declared winner.
In another development, UDF secretary general Kennedy Makwangwala said Tuesday that Blantyre City South MP Elwyn Maluwa would not be allowed to contest in the primary elections on instructions from Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Fahad Assani.
“We got communication from the DPP telling us to advise Maluwa not to contest until his case of assault is finalised by the courts and we will just relay this information to him,” said Makwangwala.
Asked about the rigging and irregularities allegations, Makwangwala said his office has not received any complaint on the conduct of the primary elections, adding that if he receives the complaints officially, the party will resolve them amicably.
He also said incumbent MPs in Thyolo namely Phillip Bwanali, Roy Commsy, Bob Khamisa and Trifonia Dafter emerged victors in the primary elections held on Monday. Other incumbents who sailed through are Zomba Central MP Andrew Chioza, Zomba Chingale MP Leonard Mangulama and Presidential Affairs minister Ken Lipenga.
Balaka based musician Lucius Banda triumphed over incumbent Simon Bwanali in Balaka North as did UDF National Director for Women Joyce Banda over incumbent Zomba Malosa MP Kennedy Kuntenga, and former Hunger Project country director Calista Chimombo over sitting Zomba Likangala MP Gillian Mulombe.
Two cabinet ministers, Lee Mlanga and Fidson Chisesele, became the first cabinet victims when they lost in primary elections held on Monday. Mlanga lost to Benedicto Mutchona Nyirenda while Chisesele lost to businessman Geoffrey Ntelemuka. |
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