By Mabvuto Kalawa – Malawi Freedom Network Correspondent
The incumbent Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Mpenu constituency has distributed Malawi Congress Party (MCP) cloth (zitenje) to people in his area as part of his campaign strategy ahead of the upcoming general elections.
The distribution exercise targeted local communities, and people were reportedly asked to present their voter registration certificates to qualify for receiving the party cloth.
During the handouts, beneficiaries were urged to vote for the MP and President Lazarus Chakwera in the forthcoming polls.
According to community members, the party cloth was not limited to ordinary residents alone. Civil servants, including schoolteachers and village headmen, were also among the recipients.
One teacher, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that all teachers at his school were given MCP cloth regardless of their political affiliations.
Despite receiving the cloth, the teacher expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “I will not vote for this party even though they have given me party cloth.”
A concerned community member voiced serious concerns over the gesture, questioning its morality. “Is this not corruption? He wants to buy our votes with clothes, but we will not be fooled,” the man said.
He further complained about the lack of development in the area. “We don’t have medicine in our hospitals. Basic needs are expensive. Life is hard. Instead of bringing real development, they are giving us party cloth. We are suffering,” he added.
The incident raises ethical concerns about vote-buying and the use of party materials as inducement during campaigns, especially when basic public services remain lacking in many parts of the country.
