Malawi poll body rules out setting of special courts for elections
Pollster, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has ruled out setting special courts to hear elections related cases.
MEC chair Jane Ansah said this recently in Mzuzu during a meeting with electoral stakeholders.
Ansah said the current set up of hearing electoral cases in normal courts is not disappointing. Ansah, herself a judge, has heard many elections related cases.
“The courts are doing well in handling elections related cases,” she said.
Jeremiah Chihana, director of research of Rainbow Coalition put up the proposal to Ansah. He said this would cut delays of election related cases experienced in normal courts thereby delaying justice in elections.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has always claimed PresidentT Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) were elected on “fabricated results”.
The outcome of the presidential results was mired in controversy amid allegations of rigging and confusion over how the MEC should have proceeded in the wake of conflicting court rulings on vote counting.
The results of the vote were announced on 30 May, minutes after the High Court refused a last-ditch attempt to block their release and allow time for a recount.
Former presidents of opposition Malawi Congress Party, John Tembo and late Gwanda Chakuamba lost several elections related cases in the High Court on rigging alalegation.
