By-elections underway in Mangochi, Phalombe

Voting has started in Mangochi North East constituency where three candidates are vying for a parliamentary seat.

Some of the polling centres such as St Augustine two primary school and M’baluku market registered voters were seen in long queues ready to cast their votes before 6am to choose a parliamentarian of their choice.

In most centres voting started on time with all the voting materials in place.

According to presiding officer for ST Augustine 2 polling centre Lyford Nkombe, turn out at the centre has been impressive this far.

Nkombe said the centre has 2,900 registered voters and are expected to cast their ballots in this by election.

The candidates contesting are Duncan Mana Cassim of UTM, Idi Kalosi of the United Democratic Front – UDF and independent Martin Chikati Nyengo.

The constituency has 18 poling centres with a total of 31,501 registered voters.

The high court sitting in Blantyre nullified the parliamentary results for this constituency following massive irregularities in the 2019 elections.