By Fostina Mkandawire

Salima, February 25, Mana: Sakina Chingomanje beat five other contestants to become torchbearer for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) for the newly demarcated Salima Central East Constituency in the September 16, 2025 General Elections.

Chingomanje, a business woman, on Tuesday, defeated five other contestants after amassing 645 votes out of 1349 total votes that were cast.

She was seconded by Ihlaf James Khalid who got 338 votes with the least out of the six candidates getting 67 votes.

Chingomanje was up against 5 other candidates namely; Maxwell Kutchemba Chisindo, Ihlaf James Khalid, Martha Tembo, Kassim Mdala Amuli and Moses Phenias Chinyama.

First Deputy Director of Elections for the MCP, Olivier Liwewe described the elections as free and fair.

"The elections were well managed and there were no anomalies recorded, therefore as a party we are contented, and duly declare Chingomanje as our shadow Member of Parliament for this constituency," she said.

Liwewe said introduction of the secret ballot by the party has brought sanity to the electoral process during the primaries.

In ward elections under the same constituency, Thomasi Boston triumphed in the Maganga ward with 538 votes beating Harjie Yasini who scooped 100 votes, while for Kuluunda ward, Charles Majidu Sereman went unopposed.