Malawi’s $170,000 campaign that yielded no results

Former ruling People’s Party (PP) Secretary General Paul Maulidi, who dragged the party’s President Joyce Banda to court for attempting to block him from contesting in October 7 by-elections, has lost Blantyre North Parliamentary seat to Francis Phiso of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The Party advised its members to contest in the by-elections on independent tickets, but Maulidi bashed Banda’s orders and went on to contest on the party’s ticket.

He also asked the party president to give him back K72 million (approx $170,000) he spent on campaign since July last year.

But according to unofficial results, DPP has won both seats in the parliamentary election and two of the five seats in the local government by-elections.

The parliamentary elections were held in Blantyre North and Thyolo East.

Thyolo East fell vacant after the winner in the May 20 election, Peter Mutharika, was also declared winner in the presidential polls