Karonga Central Hopeful Kaitano Simwaka Says MCP Primaries Were ‘Stage Managed’

Karonga Central Constituency shadow parliamentarian Kaitano Simwaka, who recently lost in Malawi Congress Party (MCP) primaries, has publicly criticized the party’s electoral process while expressing confidence in his new political home with UTM Party.

Allegations of Electoral Malpractice

The University of Livingstonia (UniLia) lecturer was among several aspirants who competed in the Karonga Central primaries, including Evance Ngosi and eventual winner Jobson Msowoya. However, Simwaka maintains the process was fundamentally flawed.

“I feel more energized now than before,” Simwaka stated in an interview. “The fact is that the elections were stage managed, and even those that managed those elections know so.”

Specific Complaints About MCP Primaries

Simwaka outlined several alleged irregularities:

• Prohibited ferrying of supporters for candidates
• Regional team instructing voters who to vote for
• Allowing some voters to cast ballots without proper identification

New Political Home in UTM

The former MCP member expressed no regrets about joining UTM, emphasizing his commitment to democratic principles. “I was already impressed by UTM and its economic turnaround policies plus their dedication to youth empowerment. It was just a matter of time,” he explained.

Simwaka was formally welcomed at UTM party headquarters in Lilongwe several weeks ago, alongside Lupembe Ward councillor Elisha Bwinga, who also lost in MCP primaries.

Looking Ahead to General Elections

Despite the primary setback, Simwaka remains optimistic about his political future: “I get the mandate from the electorate and I will battle to the end. Whether wealthy or struggling or connected to the ruling party. Actually, I do not mind the opposition because I am a Karonga Central person who has seen it all and is poised to make a difference.”

The academic-turned-politician pledged to advance servant leadership principles if elected, expressing particular confidence in UTM’s leadership under Dalitso Kabambe as the right path for Malawi’s future.

This article summarizes an original report. Full credit goes to Malawi Voice. We encourage readers to explore the original article for complete details.