Chakwera condemns MCP publicity statement on MEC: Malawi court says free speech has limitations
Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera has swiftly condemned and disassociated himself from a statement issued by the party publicity secretary Maurice Munthali which urged people to be vigilant and apprehend Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) staff who were meeting poll presiding officers.
Chakwera condemned and disassociated himself from the statement as ordered by the Constitutional Court in Lilongwe to do so following a complaint from MEC legal team.
The MCP leader was ordered by the court to “publicly condemn and disassociate himself from the offending parts of the statement” issued by Munthali within 24 hours.
“While the statement may not have been wholly wrong in expressing wonderment and suspicion at the conduct on which Malawi Electoral Commission officials or agents had embarked, and therefore not condemnable omnibus, there were nonetheless parts of it which were capable of an offending meaning,” says Chakwera’s statement in part.
Chakwera is the second petitioner in the landmark elections case after Saulos Chilima, the president of UTM who want presidential election results nullified.
“For this reason, as a man in pursuit of justice and peaceful and lawful means, and without disowning the Honourable Reverend Maurice Munthali as publicity secretary of the party, I publicly condemn and disassociate myself from the parts of the statement which have been found to be offensive,” says Chakwera in the statement.
The court also strongly condemned MCP spokesman for his disgusting statement which among other things demanded that MEC lawyers and officials be apprehended while correcting evidence from presiding officers.
Munthali alleged that some district commissioners were working with MEC to coerce presiding officers and other stakeholders to sign what he termed ‘the clandestine’ result sheets in exchange for money.
“Reverend Munthali’s statement was at best careless and at worst it amounted to an incitement of mob vigilant action by communities against [MEC lawyers] and other officials,” said judge Dingiswayo Madise in the ruling.
The court said MCP spokesman statement was “unfortunate and uncalled for.”
The Constitutional Court further said such statements should never be made in course of a court case and especially where the matter is sensitive and evokes public emotions.
The court said while it appreciates that every person, including Reverend Munthali, has freedom of opinion and expression, “such freedoms have limitations.”
Making the ruling, the court said utterances that amount to incitement to unlawful hostility that interferes with court process “ do not enjoy the protection of freedom of expression.”
Both Chakwera and Chilima are asking the court to order a rerun following alleged presidential poll results manipulation in favour of president Peter Mutharika.
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Kangw’ngw’i Chakwera is a very power hungry useless daft entity
You need to differentiate between mboni and umboni. MEC is identifying mboni kuti zikanene ku khothi. Kumamvetsetsa zinthuzi.
In MCP you always see evil from head to toe, regardless of a leader.
Did he have to wat for the court to see the evil in the statement? If so, he must be very daft, not fit to be a national leader.
Kan’gwin’gwi Rev. kwelani ndi awa ayakumbuyo,zao ndi zimodzi kkkkkk
It takes real men to backtrack for the good of the nation. Any sane person would react negatively to MEC’s strange request to hunt for affidavits when the information being sought is the very one used when announcing presidential and, indeed, other results.
Yes, Chakwera has swallowed his pride but he still remains smarter than APM, the acting Malawi president.
He is a fool who plots foolish actions.
Bravo Chakwera! You have lost nothing by obeying the court. You have shown maturity in politics. Akanakhala tippex president bwenzi akukanika kupepesa…. Tippex persedent samatha kuganiza mwansanga pa zoyenera kuchita.
kikikiki! Mbusa adzudzula Mbusa! kikikiki.
Ndale sizaabusa ayi. Ndale za zipani siza Abusa enieni ayi. Inu munaonapo Ambuye a Bishopu akusiya unsembe ndi kakuimira u MP kwao? Abusa enieni amatha kulangiza kapena kudzudzula Boma koma samasiya Ubusa ndi kuimanawo pa mipando ya zipani.
Gule Chakwera..shame!
Manyazi munthu wankulu, Dont allow indiscipline and arrogance in your rank and file, you are fighting for the High Office and in that office there is need to have a cool mind, dont allow Militants, Nyau and Tribalists control your actions. Sir you have a capability to be a leader of this Nation, but remove the spirit of pride and hatred. Your time is coming please keep cool. GOD will lift you up if you follow His ways, when you are joining your self with supporters of homesexuals, Violence and tribalists GOD will spit you out