Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has accused the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of misleading aspirants in the Malava parliamentary by-election by promising them direct nominations.

While campaigning for a DCP candidate in Malava on Sunday, August 17, 2025, Malala claimed that UDA had assured several aspirants in the constituency that they would be handed direct party tickets if they resigned from their jobs. However, after stepping down, many of them later discovered that they would still have to go through party primaries.

“Kuna watu ambao wamesimamia vyama ambao wanaambia watu wewe kuja kwa chama yangu nitakupatia direct ticket, alafu wanakuwa watu wengi. Shida ambayo iko kwa chama cha UDA na ningependa Mudavadi ambaye anaongoza kule utatue. Wewe unakuja hapa uambie Watoto wakabras ambao wako tayari na kazi waache waende waresign unakuja kuwapatia direct ticket,” Malala stated.

“Juzi wametangaza kwamba hakuna direct ticket, hao watu wanaenda kwa direct nomination, mtu tayari aliacha kazi yake, haana mshahara. Lazima roho ishtuke.”

Malala has given an example of a UDA aspirant who recently lost his life, Enock Andanje, who, according to Malala, was already promised a direct  nomination, forcing him to resign from his teaching career, only to be told that there is no direct nomination and that the aspirants will be subjected to party primaries

He also pointed to other examples, including the Kabras West MCA, who has expressed interest in the by-election but, according to Malala, has also been advised to resign from his ward seat to contest.

Malala further highlighted the case of Ryan Injendi, the son of the late Malava MP Malulu Injendi, who works in Parliament and has until Monday, August 18, 2025, to resign following IEBC’s directive requiring all aspirants to vacate their current positions before contesting.

“Ameenda kwa mtoto wa marehemu ambaye anafanya kazi bunge kesho ndio deadline ya kuresign, kijana mdogo kama huyo, anafaa aandike barua leo usiku, aresign kutoka kwa kazi ya bunge, alafu akuje mmpeleke kwa nomination aanguke.” Malala lamented

Woes facing aspirants

According to Malala, the situation has left many aspirants stranded, facing job losses without any guarantees of securing party tickets. He stated that these individuals now risk being unemployed while also losing in the nominations, a double setback brought about by false assurances.

He urged the Prime Cabinet Secretary, who is leading UDA’s campaigns in the Malava by-election, to intervene and address the matter before it escalates further.