Dr John Paul popularly known as “Chinkhonkhwe” has won Malawi Congress Party (MCP) primaries to represent as member of parliament for the newly demarcated Mchinji West Constituency on 16 September.
Dr Paul, a social economic development studies practitioner with a PhD in Doctor of Philosophy in Social Development emerged the winner after beating five other contestants in a highly contested elections with 942 votes that took place at Traditional Authority Nyoka grounds.
His counterpart who came second Lita Langa Sanga got 394 votes.
Dan Kachikoti and Esnart Chitawo Lungu also emerged winners after edging off other aspiring candidates.
Kachikoti will represent Boma while Lungu will represent Msechembe ward as a councillor.
Dr Paul who develops social economic models, is also the treasurer for the party in his acceptance speech said he will continue working with the party president Lazarus Chakwera for growth of the party.
He said he will support the president to find 80 of every 100 votes during the slated 2025 presidential general elections, “We will go the Chakwera way of going door to door campaign to win the vote of Malawians as our president believes in touching base with electorates,” said Dr Paul.
He added that his ambition is to make a Mchinji West Constituency a role model by replicating any other development taking place in his constituency to be implemented in other constituencies.
“I will also work with my colleagues who lost today. This is not the end of all, as it symbolises the beginning of our growth and a spirit of togetherness,” he added.
According to Dr Paul this is not the first time he has contested for member of parliament position as previously he also contested for Mchinji North West where he lost to Godfrey Kapalamula.
The Party’s Director of Political Affairs Maxwell Thyolera applauded the delegates and monitors for a peaceful election.
“This election has been conducted in a peaceful manner and we thank the delegates and monitors for a job well done,” said Thyolera.
Thyolera encouraged the other five not to quit the party as stand as independent candidates saying there are many positions up for grabs within the party.
“Those of you that have lost today do not give up, you will be rewarded with other better responsibilities in the party. What you can do now however, is to fully support your colleagues,” he said.
Lita Langa, Thokozani Gezile Msiska, Joyce Banda, Mapitiro Chibisa, Dr John Paul, and Lawrence kanyemba are the six candidates that contested on the parliamentary position.
Dan kachikoti, Lawrenc Chikhasu, James Ganya, Yonas Mtanga are those that contested for boma ward as councillors, while Yohane mwale, Esnart Chitawo Lungu and Dennis Lazaro contested wrestled for Msechembe ward.
The primaries saw 1, 548 delegates who cast the vote.
