DPP pens MEC: Wants PP’s Ralph Mhone disqualified for inciting violence
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) district committee for Nkhata Bay has penned the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) asking it to disqualify the ruling People’s Party (PP) candidate for Nkhata Bay central Ralph Mhone for inciting violence in the district.
The DPP district committee under the instigation of Vuwa Kaunda, Campaign Director has already written MEC to have Mhone be barred from contesting as Member of Parliament for the area.
In a letter dated April 1, 2014, which Nyasa Times has seen, the DPP argues the parliamentary candidate PP has been inciting violence in the district and must be barred from contesting.
The letter said Mhone acted or behaved in a way that provoked or promoted violence contrary to section 7(5) of the electoral code of conduct for the parties and candidates, which resulted in the injury of two DPP supporters.
Those injured are Hilda Mphande and Kinna Kaunda both from Traditional Authority Mkumbira in the district.
“The DPP District Committee is demanding that the Electoral Commission should exercise its powers under section 11(3) of the said code to disqualify Mr. Ralph Mhone and bar him from contesting in the May 20, 2014 Parliamentary Elections,” reads part of the letter which has been sent to MEC and copied to the Nkhata Bay District Commissioner.
There was no immediate comment from both the Electoral Commission.
The party, through the lawyer, has given Electoral Commission 14 days to act on the matter and failure to do so will result in “our clients to seek judicial review of your inaction in the High Court, where they shall apply for an order of mandamus, compelling the Electoral Commission to disqualify the said Ralph Mhone.”
It is reported that few weeks ago Mhone mobilised his supporters to converge at Mbanasi Hall, opposite Kalambwe Primary School some 300 meters away from where the DPP was holding its political rally.
The PP supporters started throwing foul language at DPP followers a development that eventually ended up in a fracas two DPP supporters were seriously injured.
