Councillors and a Member of Parliament (MP) in Mzuzu City Wednesday elected UTM’s Nsongwe Ward Councillor Brian Nyasulu as the city’s mayor, replacing governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP)’s Gift Desire Nyirenda.
They also elected Katawa Ward representative Monica Simwaka of MCP as deputy mayor.
There was drama in the morning when officials from the council and Malawi Electoral Commission waited for close to an hour before the meeting started as the councillors were holding caucuses at a distance from Mzuzu Civic Offices.
Even after the elective meeting was called to order, it was not short of disruptions.
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Mchengautuba Ward Councillor Pyera Chiumia stood on a point of order to ask about the eligibility of Nyirenda who is facing defilement accusations.
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There were tempers in the chamber before Mzuzu High Court Assistant Registrar Matthews Msiska enlightened the councillors that the former mayor was eligible as he had not been convicted in the case.
Of the 15 councillors and lone MP Bennex Mwamlima who cast their ballots, nine opted for Nyasulu while seven went to Nyirenda on the mayor seat.
Simwaka won with 10 votes against six which former deputy mayor Tony Mwenetete (MCP) shared with Hewett Mkandawire of UTM.
In an interview, Nyasulu said the outcome of the election simply showed that the Tonse Alliance, which some observers feel disintegrated way back, is still intact and that people still have trust in the current administration.
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“My role will be ensuring that the city’s urban structure plan is followed and the city is developed according to the wishes of its residents and government blueprint.
“This is the Tonse Alliance that we wanted and we promise to serve the residents and the government well,” he said.
Nyasulu once served as mayor for Mzuzu City from 2019 to 2022, while Simwaka is the first female deputy mayor for the city.
Mzuzu City Council Chief Executive Officer Gomezgani Nyasulu said the elections were free, fair and credible, adding that is the reason no one opposed the outcome.
“Our expectations are that we will work together with the new office members from the political arm to build our city. Pulling each other down will not take us anywhere,” he said.
In Lilongwe, former deputy mayor Esther Sagawa of MCP was on Tuesday elected mayor, replacing Richard Banda of MCP as well, whose two-term tenure had come to an end, while in Zomba, Christopher Jana of Democratic Progressive Party won the mayoral seat.
Blantyre City Council is expected to hold the mayoral elections on July 22.
