MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The battle for Rumphi Central Constituency is intensifying as political parties prepare for the upcoming by-election, triggered by Enock Chihana’s appointment as Second Vice President.

AFORD, the party that won the seat in the September 16 polls, will field its Deputy Secretary General Paul Nyirenda, while UTM has nominated Mathews Mtumbuka, who was Dalitso Kabambe’s running mate in the last presidential election. DPP’s candidate is Yelemiya Chihana.

Today, AFORD President Enock Chihana will hold a public rally at Rumphi Boma, where he’ll update the public on the AFORD/DPP Alliance’s agenda and development plans.

This comes amid speculation about the alliance’s future, following Yeremia Chihana’s decision to join DPP, raising questions about AFORD’s autonomy.

The Malawi Electoral Commission has yet to announce the by-election dates, but the contest is expected to be fierce, with multiple parties vying for the seat.

Rumphi Central has historically been a competitive constituency, with AFORD’s Enock Chihana winning the seat in 2011 and 2019.

The by-election will test the parties’ strength and alliances, particularly the DPP-AFORD partnership.

As the campaign heats up, voters will be looking for promises of development and progress.

With the stakes high, the outcome is far from certain.