By Burnett Munthali
The Malawi Congress Party (MCP) primary elections in Lilongwe Central constituency ended in chaos on Wednesday after unidentified bouncers stormed the venue and disrupted the vote-counting process.
The incident took place at Chalendewera Ground, where party supporters and candidates had gathered to witness the outcome of a highly competitive internal contest.
Eyewitnesses described a dramatic scene as the bouncers arrived unannounced and moved swiftly to confiscate ballot papers.
The ballots in question reportedly belonged to one candidate who appeared to be leading in the polls at the time of the attack.
The bouncers targeted the candidate’s monitor, forcibly grabbing the votes from them before fleeing the scene.
The attack created confusion and panic among party officials, supporters, and voters who had hoped for a peaceful and transparent election.
There are six candidates contesting the MCP primary in Lilongwe Central: Aubrey Buluzi, Khama Chowa, Irene Katola, Lobin Lowe, Herbert Mtoso, and Jimion Nyanda.
According to one eyewitness, the bouncers specifically targeted Herbert Mtoso, seizing the votes that were being counted in his favor.
The group reportedly caused a violent commotion at the venue before making their escape with the ballot papers.
In an interview following the incident, Mtoso confirmed that his votes were taken by the bouncers.
He expressed concern over the integrity of the election process and called for immediate action from the party leadership.
The presiding officer, Matthias Mgemezulu, acknowledged the incident and said he had referred the matter to the party’s spokesperson.
Mgemezulu stated that further direction would come from Jessie Kabwila, the official MCP spokesperson.
As of Wednesday evening, Kabwila had not yet issued a formal statement on the matter.
The disruption raises serious concerns about the credibility and security of primary elections within the MCP, especially in constituencies with fierce competition.
Party supporters and political analysts are now calling for a thorough investigation to identify the culprits and ensure justice for all affected candidates.
The incident also puts pressure on the MCP leadership to reinforce electoral transparency and fairness as the country heads toward the next general elections.
What was expected to be a democratic exercise has instead turned into a controversy that threatens to tarnish the party’s internal processes and public image.
All eyes are now on the party’s next move, as stakeholders await clarity on how the issue will be resolved and whether the primaries will be rescheduled.
