Ansah position at Malawi Electoral Commission is ‘untenable’
A governance analyst and University of Malawi (Unima) political commentator have said the embattled Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Justice Jane Ansah position at the helm of MEC is untenable following public discontent.
The civil society organisations (CSOs), electoral stakeholders and the electorate are demanding Ansah’s resignation on allegations that she failed to handle the May 21 presidential elections, which were marred by alleged irregularities and purportedly favouring President Peter Mutharika.
Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was declared the winner, but other contenders for the presidency, notably Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Chilima of UTM are challenging the results at the Constitutional Court.
In comments reported by the press, University of Malawi’s Chancellor College-based political analyst Ernest Thindwa said he believed that Ansah’s status as MEC chairperson was no longer safe.
“Whether what she did was right or wrong, her position is untenable,” said Thindwa.
“The significance of the issues that some people have raised, including the position by the court to validate the petition by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM, shows the concerns are genuine.
“In my view, perception matters most and that the best thing Justice Ansah would do is to honourably resign,” said Thindwa in quotes reported by The Nation daily newspaper on Tuesday.
The paper also quoted governance expert Henry Chingaipe, who said: “If what is happening in the country regarding the role of the MEC chair was happening in a country where democracy and governance systems were strong, Justice Ansah would have stepped down on her own long ago.”
Chingaipe said the problem in Malawi is that “people look at the legality context and not the ethical considerations.”
The governance expert said apart from Ansah being in that position legally, “there is need to consider the integrity of the position she holds and the whole institution.”
Civil rights activist, Rafiq Hajat who is executive director for Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI) said Ansah is “in an awkward position” as the matter is court.
Speaking in an exclusive interview last week with private broadcaster Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), Ansah described accusations of her personal bias as unfounded and baseless.
During the interview, Ansah, a judge of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, rejected any calls for her to resign on principle, saying she will wait for the court’s judgement on the matter to decide whether to call it quits.
She described nationwide demonstrations demanding her resignation as “mob justice”.
Recently, Chilima, who served as the country’s vice-president between May 2014 and May 2019, also wrote Ansah a letter in which he said he had evidence that the embattled MEC chairwoman spoke to colleagues at the electoral body to work on re-electing Mutharika and stop the possible ascendancy to the vice-presidency of MCP running mate Muhammad Sidik Mia allegedly for being a Muslim.
During the ZBS interview, Ansah denied both allegations, saying she has no access to MEC staff except the chief elections officer.
She said: “What I can say is that I did my work according to law.”
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My simple advise,
Next election MEC must hire Accountants in all polling centers for correct summation of ballot papers and tallying the results sheets and Soldiers for Security of all polling centres.
We have many accountants graduating from Malawi schools who can do better job than these sons and daughters of MEC stuff who lack basic mathematical skills.
Exclude sons and daughters of MEC Officials from all election related processes. They are the ones messing up elections bcoz their parents have been paid up in advance and these sons and daughters are beneficiaries.
Even better… we must have biometric n electronic voting machines EVMs. It’s the most effective way to elect a legitimate leader. The monies spent on these bullshit elections which have been rigged since dpp have come into political landscape of this country, is much more than what we can buy these EVMs one time and use them many elections to come. No more bloody rigging n stealing by any parties. Best way to democratically hold elections n democratically elect genuine n legitimate leaders. Donors will be gladly happy to sponsor the procurement of EVMs. Current system is bloody premitive n leaves too much room to rig, and we have been witnessing that since 2009. Come on opposition Parliamenterians move the motion…. strike it while iron is hot.
Yes they lack basic mathematical skills like teachers who taught you to be where you are, then they are part of the messing up elections, also that you can overcome court because you went to school.
Ansa is right to say she will wait for the court outcome before resigning. The matter is in court and the question is “whay are some people in a hurry? why cant they wait for court outcome? are they more powerful than the courts? are they condemning the accused before the courts declare her guilty? is the rule of law being respected here? how about nature justice doctrine? I think some people have hidden agenda otherwise the nation would have given the courts a chance to carry out its duties without interference.
You must be the Pimp of Jane. It’s Crystal clear she cheated n stole our votes in favour of her tired BF. So what bloody nonsense are you talking about. Tell her and her MBAVAA bf to first respect the law n the constitution. It’s you n your pimp masters have the hidden agendas. Get a life u pimp!!!!!!
When the positions become untenable then she can not defend it in any way. she answered the zodiac “did you accept tippexed tally sheets,YES.because make is given eight days to announce the results.” This is acceptance of results that are unacceptable.She announced because of time.
Leave Jane Ansah alone. Why are we Malawians such male chauvinist? Posachedwapa timva speaker Hara achoke.
Back in 1999 late Justice Hanjahanja then a MEC Chair messed up the pre-election day processes to the extent that the polling date was moved from 25th May to 15th June. The commissioners themselves were divided and sued each other in protest of MEC chair’s refusal to allow Gwanda Chakwamba and Chakufwa Chihana MCP/AFORD presidential joint ticket. Despite all that Justice Hanjahanja was never forced to resign, although he eventually resigned due to I’ll health and Justice Kalaile temporarily took over.
My point is here is Justice Ansah who did everything according to the law and backed by all her commissioners but is being forced to resign because she is a lady.
Stop this crap u piece of shit. Jane n her thieving bf must fall. Period. N you will too. Chitsiru iwe.
Tamusiyeni Jane anagwira ntchito yotamandika pa 21 may .fuck chilima ndi chakwera
Go fu** yourself…. bloody empty head.
Wait for the court. why do you want her resign when the issue is in court? are judges? mukuopa chani.kodi mmayesa boma ndi lamacheza eti kuti mwakhuta uko mumvekere ine president kanundu eti foseki!
These mafia govt is bribing everyone n everything…. currently under these dpp thugs.. All systems fail. All sectors are completely compromised. Now we Malawians must get rid of these rots n thugs….. MBAVAA ACHOKE MBAVAA ACHOKE MBAVAA ACHOKE MBAVAA ACHOKE MBAVAA ACHOKE MBAVAA
Very disappointed by the opinion of the so called expert from CHANCO, What ever is happening in our Nation by the opposition parties is MAFIA style of forcing issues for their personal gains. In Malawi the only elections that we accepted as a Nation were the 1994 elections. MEC has been demonised since 1999 and all the Chairpersons since 1999 to date have been given names, accused of being bribed, harassed and tortured by the opposition, there has never and never will these people be congratulated by Opposition in this country. Unfortunately most of them are our cream of Lawyers tested and tried in the Legal circes , found to be fine legal minds. No Lawyer, Judge will ever be liked once appointed to head MEC during election period. My Opinion is Mrs Ansa did a fine job within her capability, in her time MEC had Auditors, MEC allowed the opposition to be involved in the process of Printing, delivering and managing the voting material up to the voting points. The opposition was involved in all the sensitive issues of the voting process. The problem we have in Malawi is that Political positions from Presidency to a councillor is a Gold mine and for example in MCP the expectations were very high and many MCPs close to Chakwera were promised positions a in Government, Statutory Corporations and Foreign Missions and tried all they could to win this elections, thats why within two days of voting they had a press brief accusing MEC. I for one feel we need a different approach to our voting because the current system MEC Chairs are unnecessarily being falsely accused by opposition and it has become a pattern. The trauma our legal people are facing at MEC is just too much and most of these people at MEC I believe develop PTS Post traumatic stress which can easily take their lives. I know two of these people lost their lives, Malawians lets learn to be civil and accept things done by experts rather than being emotional by information we read from the MEDIA
WTF are you talking about. Get a hike u dumb ass.
You son of a devil, evil mind hiding behind chiggoba, come out in the open if you are a real person. I can easily trace you and confront you personally as long as you are on line. You must be very careful of whom you are attacking nditha kukuononga
God is just.
Jezebel Jane Ansah udzafa imfa yowawa.
Forget about Ernest Thindwa, he is always on the wrong side of the coin when it comes to political analyzing. He is always biased towards his own likings. Who is he to determine the tenability of Mrs Jane Ansah. Kumangowanamiza anthu basi WHILE WEARING THE MASK OF A BIGOT
The Lawyer whose law allows tippex the collection fluid as she calls it.
I have a tippexed cheque please Mai Ansah help me go and cash it.
It seems you are the only unique person who can cash it.
🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂me too I got cheque from zameer Karim with tippex…. pls Jane tell your bf to put it into his account.
Amayi Ansah, ngati mukukana kutula pansi udindo,tiyeni nazo tiona pamene zitathere.A Malawi atopa ndi umbava.
Mrs Assah has become a liability rather than an asset whether one likes it or not. The position she holds requires her to work with stakeholders none of whom would be prepared to do so except DPP which has also said that its votes were compromised. Perceptions matter in the position she holds. It would be madness for her to be allowed near elections again because she will be required to deal with people who can not trust her. Whether we like or not, her days at MEC are over. She is probably clinging on because she wants to have an influence in the court case raging on which will define whatever is remaining of her legacy.
Thindwa my former visiting lecturer wa PAS pa Chanco was not impressive to me. He seemed to lack knowledge because i went there as mature student. His analysis of issues was so dull and i never enjoyed his lessons . No wonder his look at issues for Jane Ansah is so dull indeed. Why should MEC Chair resign when the matter is in court? She told everyone how the election was handled.
Chokani apa namwe.
Mulopwana seems the dullest to me as compared to Thindwa.
In Accountancy profession holding the position of fiduciary duties like an auditor requires to be absolute independent, that is being independent and appear to be independent. If an independence is compromise by threat or perceived threat an auditor must resign. I dont know more about being a legal practitioner. But I remember Judge Ntaba did not continue with his uncles case because it would compromise law integrity. But Jane Ansahs position is compromised, therefore as the one holding fiduciary duties should resign because that is a position of trust.
Academic opinions same as those from the street…pena I feel it is irrelevant to quote these so called local experts..they are as diluted as many from the streets..
iweyo, what is your opinion, nyalugwe.
Thindwa and Mtambo anthi ppanda nzeru and so baised why didnt pressure chilima kuti apange resign..Inu beanji u fontbresign mwapangà chani worthy pointing at for Malawi nation Mbuzi za anthu inu
Sizikumveka mwalembazi, kkkkkk
She did everything following the law? Did the so called law allow her to Tippex our beautiful votes?
Kanyimbi, you are asking a very valuable and principled question. koma tazitchuleni ndi zina lomveka abale, mpaka kanyimbi kkkkkkkkk
MCP and UTM stubbornly refusing to accept the presidential poll results does not mean that Jane Ansah should resign. She did the best. This stupidity from UNIMA lecturers, MCP and UTM propagandists and the media needs to stop. Malawi is made up of many people not just a handful idiots making noise everyday, violently protesting and breaking things.
Iwe Bule ndiwe ofoila. Mutu wako sukoka, anthu ukunenawa ndi ophunzira. Usadzalembenso zopusa ngati izi. Iwe ukuona ngati Ansah anapanga zolongosoka? Osazalembanso zopusazi, a Malawi adakali okwiya
Iweyo themu nde bulutu weniweni! Thindwa ndiophunzira? Motani kuposa Ansah? Idiot!! He was head of HR ku Mra anamuchotsa becoz of f nepotism when did he become a political analyst? Mxiii!! This country!!
By resigning honourably doesn’t mean you are wrong Infact ul save a lot. Do u want to resign only when others have lost their lives and property including businesses? ?????. Please think wise n give in. Moreover u being a judge u can serve ur country in many different ways. I beg with you a the situation is still under control otherwise ul live to regret.
Resigning for what reason you JERASI people, why did you not all asked Chilima to resign before election as a Vice President who was just seating PHWIII and this time you are against somebody who have bee working tirelessly ? Jelouse pharesis .She has not done evil to this country.
nosense in asking Dr Jane Ansah to resign.Why Saulosi refused to resign as Vice President but continued receiving peoples tax payers money.Shame on UTM,MCP and all the supporters of these parties.Kodi Dr Jane Ansah mukwaonelera chifukwa ndi zimayi.That is unfair.
I am dull. Very dull. But I love my nsima. I hope the courts have ………
Talking of discontent, what amounts to public discontent? Who is public, Thindwa, Mutambo or their paymasters the fake accent ex-reverend and Arafat? Bwinotu bwino. Not all Malawians have expressed this discontent. The majority of the Malawians are happy at the electoral results and fatigued by the security risk posed by Mutambo, his paymasters and their paid up thugs.
which majority r you talking about cadet iwe? Mutharika only got 38% of the votes, this clearly means 62% r not happy.
If Mutharika as per your say got denial votes amounting to 62%, you are forgetting that Chakwera was denied by 65% of voters while Chilima was denied by 80% of voters. Munthu opanda nzeru iwe making baseless argument. Had it been that the 62% you are taliking about was all for Chakwera or were all for Chilima, then what you are saying would have been making sense but then it is divided, LEKANI KULUBWALUBWA chifukwa simukudziwa zimene mukuyankhula!!!!!!
your revelend got 32% meaning 68% rejected him, and your arafat got 26% meaning 74% rejected him
Yes 62% did not vote Muntharika, 69% did not vote Chakwera and a whoooping 80% did not vote Chilima…..what the farce here….APM is lesser eveil PERIOD up to 2024
Where are these other competent lecturers, and why are they not applying for the job? kkkkkkkkkkkkkk
But what is wrong for her to resign and go back to the bench even if she thinks she did her job deligently other than insist on remaining in MEC?
Even if the courts finds her innocent of all allegations how will she work with all the stakeholders that have a warped perception of her?
Those who dont want to work with Dr Ansah SC akagwere uko.
Zawo zimenezo as long as she will be delivering, the will be fine
We cannot listen to this nonsense Thindwa. His arguments are empty and it only shows that this gentleman is dull. One wonders how a dull person like this got a position of a University Lecture. It is better the University think of employing other competent Lectures other than maintaining such dull staff.
You are the dullest one….you haven’t counteracted Thindwa arguments but just insults at him……it shows you are empty headed just writing nonsense.
Damn right.. most commentators are empty headed…. Just bloody praising dpp n it’s professional thugs without knowing jackshit. This electrol theft is as clear as water n every one with common sense agrees with this daylight robbery of our votes. Thickheads. 😂🤣😂🤣😂
Palibe chanzeru wakambaso nawetu.. busy attacking the person, instead of what he said. Ngati muli ndi mzeru osatipasa alternative view bwanji. Too much nonsense from an empty head. Bola nzako ndi university lecturer. U need school my friend
It looks like you are the one who is dull to the core. Failing to understand a simple argument Thindwa is putting up is good testimony that you are an empty minded person. Sorry Dazi
Iwe Dazi ndiwe one of the mbulis in Malawi. Where did you go to school? Do you know Thindwa well?
As far as I know Jane Ansah is regretting and has spoiled her integrity. She was one of the most respected woman but ALAS!