1,290 people have been approved by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to contest for the May 20 polls as Members of Parliament for the 193 constituencies that the country has.

In a press release that has seen the missing of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson, the commission has indicated that it has approved nominations of 1,290 people who aspire to be members of Parliament.

Of the total number, 1,033 are men while only 257 are female. This has completely hit at the gender 50/50 campaign as it means that more men are in the race.

Last week the commission approved 11 people out of a possible 12 for the seat of Presidency and only two were female while the other nine were males.