Only 2 candidates have fulfilled nomination requirements, 2 withdrawals, 2 turned down

Presentation of nomination papers for July presidential elections at Mount Soche in Blantyre started with fire on Monday with Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and United Transformation Movement (UTM) and alliance partners submitted their papers.

MCP and UTM did fulfilled every requirement requested by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) before submitting the nomination papers including 10 signatures from 28 districts in the country and nomination fee of K2 million.

The fire went on burning when Mbakuwaku Movement for Development (MMD) candidate Peter Kuwani also entered the Conference Hall to submit his papers.

He fulfilled every requirement as requested by MEC.

Things turned around when Ras Chikomeni Chirwa, an independent candidate, came to Mount Soche to deliver his nomination papers.

Hopes were high for Malawians that Chikomeni may this time around fulfill all requirements unfortunately, he revised what he did in 2019; submitting the papers without nomination fee and 10 signatures.

Next, it was the time for Reverend Hardwick Kaliya, an independent candidate, to submit his papers too.

After he entered the hall, he said he is not going to present his nomination papers despite fulfilling all processes including paying the nomination fee.

He withdrew and endorsed the UTM-MCP alliance.

The sun set and Malawians went home hoping that the following day, Thursday, candidates will not do as other two candidates did.

On Thursday morning, it was time for Khwechani Wesuze Nkhoma, an independent candidate to submit his papers unfortunately the news came in that he has withdrawn from the race.

Sam Swira was second in line to submit the his papers, Sam did well with the collection of signatures but he did not pay the nomination fee.

Presidential aspirant Phunziro Mvula, 39 year old withdrew from the race because he had no trust in the current electoral commission leadership..

Mvula insisted he had all requirements but decided to pull out because MEC is ‘incompetent.

He then endorsed UTM-MCP alliance.

Finally, President Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) will submit his nomination papers on Thursday 2 pm.

Malawians are hoping to see Mutharika fully prepared in terms of signatures and nomination fee.