LILONGWE, July 22 (Xinhua) -- At least 20 candidates who collected nomination papers from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to contest in the Sept. 16 presidential race are expected to present their papers to the MEC from July 24 to 30.
The candidates include the incumbent president Lazarus Chakwera of the governing Malawi Congress Party, former president Peter Mutharika on the Democratic Progressive Party ticket, former president Joyce Banda with the People's Party, and former reserve bank governor Dalitso Kabambe with the United Transformation Movement.
According to MEC's schedule released on Monday, Banda will be the first to present her nomination papers on July 24, followed by Mutharika on July 25. Chakwera will present his nomination papers on the last day, July 30, while the rest of the candidates will present their papers within the set dates.
Other known candidates include incumbent vice president Michael Usi, former vice president Cassim Chilumpha, and Atupele Muluzi, son of the country's former president Bakili Muluzi.
In total, there are six independent presidential aspirants, and 14 political-party-backed aspirants.
The number of presidential hopefuls is likely to rise as MEC's window for collecting nomination papers remains open until July 30.
The MEC set a nomination fee of 10 million Malawi kwacha (about 5,700 U.S. dollars), which each of the 20 aspirants has duly paid.
The electoral body officially launched campaign period for the general election on July 14, which will run until Sept. 14, 48 hours before the polling day, Sept. 16. ■
