‘Chakwera has ceased to be President of  Malawi’: DPP calls on court to nullify fresh election, revert to APM-SKC presidency

The erstwhile ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has gone to court and is callingfor the nullification of the 23 June 2020 Presidential Elections, and all subsequent Parliamentary, and Local Government By- Elections following the rescinding of the appointment of two commissioners Linda Kunje and Jean Mathanga by the Office of the President  and Cabinet (OPC).

Chakwera: DPP urges him to leave the Office of President immediately., saying he has ceased to be a legitimately elected President of the Republic of Malawi

DPP which nominated the two fired commissioners is seeking a judicial review on Secretary to the President and Cabinet Zanga- Zanga Chikhosi’s decision which the party has described as “abuse of Executive powers”.

Spokesperson of DPP, Brown Mpinganjira, said the party  has noted the decision of President Lazarus Chakwera rescinding the appointment of Kunje and Mathanga  and that the consequence of the rescission is that ‘The appointments were void ab initio [to be treated as invalid from the outset]”

Reads the statement in part: “Commissioners Kunje and Mathanga were soon after their appointment duly sworn in and they participated in the conduct and organization of the 23rd June, 2020 Court ordered Presidential General Elections as Members of the Electoral Commission.”

In the letter communicating the decision to rescind, the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Zanga Zanga Chikhosi stated that the rescission is on the basis that the two were adjudged incompetent by the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal in its decision delivered on 8th May 2019, regarding the manner in which they handled the 2019 Tripartite General Elections.

However, DPP  argues: “We hasten to point out that Commissioners Kunje and Mathanga were properly re-appointed by the former President in exercise of the powers conferred on a President by the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi. Malawians will recall that soon after the appointment of the new Electoral Commission in June 2019, the Malawi Congress Party, which was and still is headed by Dr Lazarus Chakwera, sought to challenge the re-appointment of Commissioners Kunje and Mathanga in Civil Cause number……..of 2019.

“That lawsuit was subsequently withdrawn and Commissioners Kunje and Mathanga participated in the electoral process that returned Dr Lazarus Chakwera as duly elected President of the Republic of Malawi.

“Under our laws, the Electoral Commission is the only body which is constitutionally mandated to organize, arrange and conduct elections in this country. To do so in compliance with the law, it has to be properly and legally constituted.”

DPP has also cited Section 75 (1) of the Constitution states that “there shall be an Electoral Commission which shall consist of a chairman who shall be a judge nominated in that behalf by the Judicial Service Commission and such other members, not being less than six, as may be appointed in accordance with an Act of Parliament”.

“Therefore, for any election to have been duly conducted, the legality of the composition of the Electoral Commission as well as the manner of its appointment are necessary pre-requisites.

“Consequently, since the rescission of the appointment of Commissioners Kunje and Mathanga is operative as from the date of their appointment, namely, the 7th June 2020, it is clear that as from that date up to now, we have not had a duly constituted Electoral Commission as required by Section 75 of the Constitution which would have been capable of organizing and conducting any elections in Malawi.

“For avoidance of doubt, the effect of the rescission of the appointment is to undo, unmake, abrogate, annul and cancel the said appointments as from the date of their appointment and not just termination of employment of the two as Commissioners. Therefore, rescinding the said appointment immediately invalidates any and all decisions made by the Electoral Commission as from the 7th June 202,” reads DPP statement.

Mpinganjira said dpp will therefore be calling on the Courts to invalidate the following decisions by the Electoral Commission immediately:

  1. Nullification of the 23rd June 2020 Presidential Elections on grounds of undue election because the electoral body was not duly constituted according to law.
  2. Nullification of all the bye-elections conducted thereafter.

Further, DPP  calls upon Chakwera to leave the Office of President immediately.

“He has ceased to be a legitimately elected President of the Republic of Malawi because the election that elected him into office was presided over by an unconstitutional body,” said Mpinganjira.

DPP calls on the Courts, when moved, to nullify the election of Chakwera and his Vice President, Saulos Chilima and revert to the position as it was before the 23rd June 2020 where Peter Muhtarika was president and Chilima as vice president.

“Our decision to pursue this course is underpinned by the Constitution which is the Supreme law of the land,” said Mpinganjira.

Law professor Garton  Kamchedzera of Chancellor College—a constituent college of the University of Malawi,  said President Chakwera should refer the matter to the court as a presidential referral for the Chief Justice to appoint a minimum of three judges to authoritatively decide on the issue as a Constitutional Court.

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Pachalo
Pachalo
2 years ago

Uko kunali kulira kwa ma Cadet! Koma ku opposition mulimbako inu? MCP inafa bulu r amangwetu…zaka 26 in opposition and someone thinks they can just get boma like that?
Fact…Tonse is ruling until 2085! DPP forget about it…kwanu kunatha!

Peter L
Peter L
2 years ago

Zina ukamba kambangamwala …ma judge omwewo ndi amene apereka that decision to DPP. Our President is stupid omulangiza analipo koma sanamvere

nafundo zalo
nafundo zalo
2 years ago

pitalaso kacingati???? nde ndigula mfuti. tinamucotsa basi. ndi zomwe zokakamila linda ndi jinizi .mxiiii za mkutu

Politicians heater
2 years ago

Malawi politics is just a fucken joke mother fucking stinking asses in politics who have no idea how they fucking peoples life. Fuck u’ll.

Wa-mapapaya
Wa-mapapaya
2 years ago

Yes, you inclusive, right?

Bauleni
Bauleni
2 years ago

Inutu mukufunika Panado kapena Bushiri water. Relax. Ameneyo nde malawiyo

Nalingula
Nalingula
2 years ago

So The Polofesi Decided to Appoint the Two in Good Faith so that 1. When their Appointment is Challenged Elections will be delayed 2. He was above the Courts and Law therefore the Supreme Court decision was not Binding on Him 3. Failed to Properly Constitute the Commission according to the Law because He was ignorant of the Law ? 4.The Polofesa so Loved Malawi that he did all the above.Let the SABOTAUR get the Justice He Deserves AS he is Coming with Clean Hands …

Anzanufe
Anzanufe
2 years ago

Mapwevupwevu government full of shit. Kwantele wateleka boma

gogo petulo
2 years ago
Reply to  Anzanufe

THE FORMER GVT WAS MORE THAN SHIT ITSELF.

Namagetsi
Namagetsi
2 years ago

I told you. Be proactive. FIRE THE SUCKER!!!!!
He is useless. Adzikapha Ombewa.

Vubwa
Vubwa
2 years ago

What a joke… wishful thinking by cadets. Go and make your own courts which can rule in your favour…Munadya ndalama zambiri heavy za a Malawi.No sane judge can rule in cadets favour mukhaula mpakana 2024

mtete
mtete
2 years ago

I bet DPP has already started strategising the next wave of plunder, thievery, nepotism, corruption and all. Forget it. There is no way Malawians will let DPP rule. Never.

Phyot Olera Kun Yini
2 years ago

This Malawi Chewa Party ( MCP) is full of vengeance and is busy wasting a lot of it’s energy on useless things.

gogo petulo
2 years ago

Mmanja kuti wawawawa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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