Competent Kachale: New Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson earns Mutharika praise

June 8, 2020 Owen Khamula - Nyasa Times 30 Comments

President Peter Mutharika has grabbed unusual applause from his critics following the appointment of  High Court judge Chifundo Kachale as chairperson of the new seven-member Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

Judge Dr Chifundo Kachale new MEC chairperson: Man of integrity, principles and competent

The opposition political parties, lawyers and electoral advocates unified to commend Mutharika for appointing  highly respectable judge Kachale replacing Justice Jane Ansah, who resigned.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson Reverend Maurice Munthali  said the party has “very high regards” for judge Kachale.

MCP presented three names  to the appointing authority, two  who have been  hired  are corporate governance expert Dr Anthony Mukumbwa and  Olivia Liwewe a former member of parliament for Nkhotakota South.

One name, Richard Chapweteka who was a witness in the elections case, was  not picked.

In a statement announcing the appointments, Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara said the President has appointed the new commissioners “in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Section 75 of the Constitution as read with Section 4 of the Electoral Commission [Amendment] Act of 2018”.

UTM Party and People’s Party (PP)  have also applauded the President for the appointment of Kachale as new chairperson.

The parties, however, urged the new commissioners and its chairperson to immediately get down to work and work on holding fresh presidential election.

IT specialist Dr Mathews Mtumbuka, who is the chief executive officer of Ubuntu Network, said he can vouch for judge Kachale to manage Malawi elections, saying many that know him have trust that he will be “objective and do an honourable job.”

A renowned private practice lawyer has also  dubbed Kachale as a no-nonsense judge the Judiciary has.

Writing on his Facebook wall, Wapona Kita observed that  Kachale is a very principled judge.

“If your case is bad before him, it’s bad. If it’s good, it’s good. He is an epitome of what a judge ought to be. And an intelligent too.

“If you are appearing before him, just have your facts and the law right,” he said.

Kita stated that he has no reason to doubt his competency as MEC chair.

The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson Nicholous Dausi commended the opposition parties and commentators  for “finally appreciating our President’s objectivity in appointments.”

Kachale was appointed to the High Court bench in June 2011 having served as the chief resident magistrate for Lilongwe. After graduating from University of Malawi, Kachale worked at Daily Times newspaper as a journalist before going back to further his studies and join the legal profession.

He was born on January 4, 1975 and is married to Mary, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and together they have three children.

He holds a PhD in Law obtained in May, 2013 from SOAS University of London focusing on Constitutionalism and Judicial Theory.

He graduated from Chancellor College with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and later obtained an LLM (Law and Development (Merit) from Queen Mary University of London in November, 2005.

Meanwhile,MEC public relations manager Sangwani Mwafulirwa has since assured of a credible election, saying the commission  is putting in place measures to deter recurrence of the challenges faced with previous elections.

Malawi is heading for the fresh presidential election after both the Constitutional Court on February 3 and Supreme Court of Appeal on May 8 2020 found that the May 21 2019 elections had serious irregularities.

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30 replies on “Competent Kachale: New Malawi Electoral Commission chairperson earns Mutharika praise”

  1. Ine ndilicheteee
    Kudikila
    Kumvetsela
    Kuonelera
    Wachilungamo wachilungamo
    Simbi!USAZEMBE

  2. Imagine a cup final game of the magnitude of games played between Before Wanderers and Nyasa Bullets or between Liverpool and Manchester United, the worst scenario that very rarely happens (but does happen),is when a ‘biased referee’ decides, (for reasons known only to himself) to award a dubious penalty kick to the team he/she wishes either to win or at least draw the game in the very final minutes of the game! It is a cardinal sin, and as we have seen, can be very costly. I pray and hope Jane Ansah will be the last ever such biased ‘referee’ that will grace the MEC ever again!

  3. Even if Mec Chairperson was Chakwera’s son, MCP always disputes elections results when they lose. Its their MO..Hangover from the Kamuzu glory days, they don’t understand how despite being a founding party , the Country at large doesn’t want them. They are quick to forget and Dismis their Nkhanza and and brutality they unleashed on Malawians for 30 years. That plus refusing Democracy are their biggest sins.

    1. Talking about nkhanza za old MCP,you will realise that 70 percent of that MCP is now in DPP, and UDF,so no party is clean in those lines.Kambani ina bro

  6. My take is that once Kachale accepts this offer he will become an endangered species like most of the judges who have taken up this post before him. The likes of Hanjanja, Mbendera, Ansa and others. I feel sorry for him. He will be ridiculed by people who don’t have the moral authority to do so.

  8. Ndilibe Nazo ntchito izi ine bola ulimi wanga ukuyenda kumpingo kwanthu politics kulibe

    2. Opposition had high regards for Dr Jane Ansah SC in 2019. It all changed on 22nd May 2019 when they realised they have lost the election. So lets wait until we get there.

  11. Have been following cases presided over by Judge Dr Kachale and he has been consistent. He is the one who one point called a sitting president to court as a witness in a signature forgery case… Remember,?

    MCP’s Dr. Mukumbwa is no nonsense and crictical of fraudulent DPP. Together with Liwewe they will be a strong team.

    Jean and Linda should not have been maintained. By the way the arrogant Linda Kunje crossed the floor at MEC after being nominated by PP.

    Uyu Steve Duwa is a bastard and mafia wachabechabe. His pro dpp entity MEJN was quick to say the 2019 election was credible. He should be ashamed to be appointed as commissioner to clear himself of the sham.

    Tivotaso

  12. His background information is glittering, let’s hope it glitters till after upcoming elections… ma politicians enawa will aproach u 4 some miilions, love citizens Mr Kachale. Don’t be like the female witch that has just left. We wish u all the best and God’s protection

  13. You have a huge task ahead of you Kachale! No praises yet. We shall see what you can deliver. Learn from the mistakes of Ansah. We are watching

  14. Kachale being a Thumbuka ,many have applauded the president for picking this judge.I am pretty sure that the President has stabbed himself in the stomach

    1. Kachale is not a Thumbuka he is from a Chiradzulu am told. Basi mumangoganiza za mitundu basi tsankho lili tho.

  15. We will justify him by work load at hand. Osamangowathiramo anthu mkumawachemerera kulitu DPP yodziwa kudyetserera ndi mabanzi ayima amenewa?

  17. Kkkkkk mukumayamikira lero Kachale and if announce APM victory you will start criticizing him. Koma takumvani zikomo he is going to work for malawians and not for individuals so whatever outcome that might be at his table after elections chonde inu a opposition dont cry again just go kunyumba ndikukamwa madzi, mwamva eti? eya kumamva choncho.

    1. It also applies to you DPP supporters. If you lose you will just have to go home and look back where you went wrong to lose because you will lose the election. Anthu mulibe woti mukwanitse 50 +1%

      1. Lomwe belt plus Yao belt then lower Shire ife Asena plus amene tingagawane pakati ndikumpoto mwasangalala kwambiri ndi ma demo nthawi yanu yokhumudwa yasala pangono DPP woyeee!!!!!!

  18. No one born out of a woman is infallible. Stop putting your trust in men. This kachale is equally capable 0f declaring someone a winner by mistake

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