Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Vice President Muhammad Sidik Mia has denied endorsing Jessie Kabwila as the party’s torchbearer for Salima North West Constituency in the forthcoming 2019 tripartite election, saying the reports are untrue.

On Wednesday, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) stringer identified as Christina Matoga published a story in one of the online publications indicating that Mia declared Kabwila as MCP torchbearer in Salima North West Constituency during a rally held at Works ground on Tuesday in the District.

But Mia has quashed the claims, saying MCP is Democratic Party.

“It has come to my attention that a shoddy report with a Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) stringer by-line (name of the reporter withheld) is circulating on the social media. The report is claiming that I DECLARED Hon Jessie Kabwira as the torchbearer of the party in her constituency during my Salima rally yesterday.

“I want to make it categorically clear that this is a misrepresentation of facts. Pure propaganda work. Never at any point in my speech did I declare Hon. Kabwira the torchbearer of the party in her constituency,” wrote Mia.

He added: “The official torchbearer of a party in any constituency is picked by party delegates in that constituency after undergoing a party sanctioned primary election. As to whether Hon. Kabwira will be the torchbearer of the party or not, that position will be determined by the party delegates in her constituency and not the deputy president of the party, let alone any party official. These are basic tenets of democracy and MCP is a democratic party.”

Meanwhile Kabwila is yet to comment on the matter.