Voting has commenced in Karonga Central constituency where five candidates are vying for a Parliamentary seat in this heavily contested by-election.

At one of the voting centres, Mwenilondo Primary School, voters were seen in long queues ready to cast their votes some minutes before six o’clock.

The candidates contesting are Leonard Mwalwanda of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) , Ernest Mwalughali of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Frank Mwenifumbo of United Transformation Movement (UTM), Shackie Mary Florence Nthakomwa, an independent and Nellie Sichali of Mbakuwako Movement for Development (MMD).

The battle of supremacy in Karonga Central is between MCP and UTM, lead parties in Tonse Alliance, which ousted Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) from government.

The constituency has 21 poling centres and about 16,180 people are expected to vote in the constituency.