As days draw near for Presidential Candidates to present nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) ahead of fresh Presidential polls on July 2, 2020, torchbearer for the grand alliance of the main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and its bedfellow United Transformation Movement (UTM) has been revealed.

According to information at hand, MCP President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera will be the torchbearer of the grand alliance and State Vice President Dr. Saulos Chilima has been offered the runningmate post.

MCP Chief Whip in Parliament Sam Dalitso Kawale confirmed of the development in a short statement posted on his official facebook page.

“Ready to vote for Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, the Torch Bearer of the grand alliance,” wrote Kawale.

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) led by its chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah will receive nomination papers from May 6, 2020 at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.

The exercise was cancelled last week due to the failed 21-day lockdown declared by President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika two weeks ago to control the spread of coronavirus in the country.

Human Right Defenders Coalition (HRDC) obtained an injunction against the lockdown.