By Durell Namasani
Former President Dr. Joyce Banda, the People’s Party (PP) presidential candidate, has officially submitted her nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.
Banda, who served as Malawi’s president from 2012 to 2014, named Khumbo Hastings Kachali as her running mate for the upcoming elections. Kachali, currently president of the Freedom Party, previously served as her vice president during her first term, which began following the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika. Banda described their partnership as “a tried and proven pair.”
Before submitting her nomination, Banda signed the electoral code of conduct. MEC Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja and other commissioners confirmed that she met all legal requirements, including securing the necessary supporting signatures from across Malawi’s districts. However, the commission stated that her papers will undergo further scrutiny to ensure full compliance.
Justice Mtalimanja urged all presidential candidates to conduct their campaigns peacefully and in line with constitutional guidelines to ensure free and fair elections. She also warned that violating the code of conduct could result in a K5 million fine, with repeated breaches leading to disqualification.
