Ansah tells Sadc electoral bodies to hold credible polls for peace: Malawi VP says duty for all stakeholders

Embattled Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah says Sadc electoral commissions must strive to hold credible polls for continued peace.

Ansah addressing the the ECF-SADC 21st Annual General Conference
Malawi vice presidetn Everton Chimulirenji receives a gift from Justice Dr Jane Ansah SC, JA Chairperson, MEC and President, Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries

Ansah said this today in Blantyre when she opened a week-long conference for officials from the Sadc electoral commissions.

She however, just like the minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Bright Msaka, said nothing on the highly disputed May 21 presidential polls which the opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM say the results were manipulated in favour of president Peter Mutharika.

“Election management bodies are key for the sustenance of peace,” said Ansah without referring to the wave of protests dubbed anti-Jane Ansah protests organised by the Malawi Human Rights Defenders to force her out of office following the rigging and vote manipulation allegations during the elections.

Ansah looked calm and composed as she read her speech in her capacity as chairperson of Electoral Commissions Forum for Sadc countries.

Opening the conference, Malawi Vice President Everton Chimulirenji asked poll officers in the region to continuously strive to improve the election management practices in order for the people to enjoy genuine democracy.

“In my wanderings across the globe, I have never encountered a democracy that is not in need of reforms. Everywhere on the globe, citizens in all nations, are striving in one form or another, and to one degree or the other, bringing in changes and improvements in the way they govern themselves.

“ It would be a colony of the dead where the inhabitants no longer strive for better ways of managing themselves. Therefore, the citizens of SADC deserve well-

administered elections at all times,” Chimulirenji said, reading from a prepared speech.

Chimulirenji said management of elections is a very crucial element for the sustainability of the democratic gains made over the years in the SADC region.

He however said it is not the responsibility of Electoral Management Body alone to ensure that elections are conducted in a credible manner but all stakeholders.

“All what the Electoral Commission does is to lead, direct and ensure that all players are served at the same time ensuring that rules of the game are followed. There are political parties, candidates, Civil Society Organisations, Governments, Development Partners, voters, among many who have a stake in elections.

“ These stakeholders should all strive to play their respective roles meaningfully in order to sustain the gains of democracy made over the years and avoid throwing back a nation to a worse situation than it was before democratisation,” he said.

There was a heavy presence of security at Mount Soche Hotel at the venue of the conference.

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Ishmael
Ishmael
4 years ago

Achoke basi

symon kamanga
symon kamanga
4 years ago

Palibe chomwe angatithandize mzimayi uyu

ndadabwa
4 years ago

koma jane ansah ndiwedi mfiti, komanso hule. osachita manyazi. iwe galu kwabasi

Mulopwana
Mulopwana
4 years ago

Jane Ansah is professional. People dont like those work according to law. MCP thought they would bribe this lady and her commisioners to favour them in the May 21 Elections but they goofed. lero Ansah waipa chifukwa MCP or UTM sinawine . Munali konko ku Comesa when MEC was receiving and tallying results. Che Chakwera analengezeratu kuti awina chisankho after one third of vote count. Matebulo atatembenuka anayamba kutchula za mwazi. Lero taona mwazi ukukhetsedwa- Policemen beaten, MDF soldiers harrassed in Karonga. All just because Nyau Lazaro sanawine. We told you that for you to defeat DPP , you needed… Read more »

President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
4 years ago

That is why SADC is not even effective- It did not condemn Mugabe when he was terrorising his country, it did not condemn SA leaders for xenophobia. Therefore it can give position even to the devil himself.

mada k
4 years ago

foolish woman

Alfred Minjo
Alfred Minjo
4 years ago
Reply to  mada k

Mmmmmmmmmmm! Mulibe mfundo wawa!!

chimanga
4 years ago

Follow what I say but do not do what I do speech by Jane Ansah

Sahara
Sahara
4 years ago

This is the woman who is more evil than death that the Bible describes.

Shamwa
Shamwa
4 years ago

These MCP guys tried to bribe ansah but failed
The same guys had some journalists on their payroll
They failed to corrupt lady Jane
Bravo to genuine justice
Bravo malawi
God bless malawi

CheChamba
CheChamba
4 years ago

JANE ANSAH, the most ever hated MEC CHAIR in the history of Malawi Presidential and Parliamentary Elections is the President of Electoral Commissions of SADC Countries? Are SADC Countries serious? Peoples have lost properties because JANE ANSAH mismanaged the elections, Malawi economy is on a death bed because of this lady yet SADC is holding this lady in high esteem. No SADC enough is enough, the Malawians that have been going to the streets are not foolish! We will embarrass both SADC and JANE ANSAH from Wednesday.

joseph Banda
joseph Banda
4 years ago
Reply to  CheChamba

So what are you saying. Just say you hate her with your noises not that the whole country hates her. Bodza!!!

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