Chakwera receives applause for message of peace to accept Malawi poll case ruling
Influential quasi-religious grouping Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has welcomed the call by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera for parties to respect the Constitutional Court outcome of much-awaited judgement on the disputed May 21 presidential election result expected next week.
Chakwera told reporters: “Let us resolve to welcome the ruling with open arms as a foundation on which we can begin the work of rebuilding our nation and reconciling with each other.
“After all, we have no other nation to call our home other than Malawi and no other people to call our own than each other. And I, for one, would never trade it for any other country.”
PAC spokesperson Bishop Gilford Matonga welcomed the call by Chakwera and urged other leaders to follow the example.
“We are happy to hear major political party heeding the call for peace. Two things came out, respect rights of others, no violence. Without the environment of peace, we cannot have meaningful development,” said Matonga.
Apart from PAC, Chakwera has also as received a round of applause from governance commentators and the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC).
Governance expert Mankhumbo Munthali described Chakwera’s remarks as “welcome and timely, especially considering the already tense political climate ahead of the court verdict”.
HRDC chair person Timothy Mtambo said Chakwera’s call for calm is a welcome development.
“Chakwera has demonstrated a rare character. Call to accept the outcome and uphold the rule of law peacefully is what the nations needs,” said Mtambo.
The panel of High Court judges handling the case comprising Healey Potani, Ivy Kamanga, Dingiswayo Madise, Mike Tembo and Redson Kapindu will be expected to deliver their judgement on January 28.
The election dispute has caused unprecedented tension, demonstrations and violence in the country.
In the historic elections case, Saulos Chilima of UTM and Chakwera are seeking a nullification of presidential results in the May 21 Tripartite Elections. They are the first and second petitioners, respectively.
The two dragged the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to court after the electoral body declared President Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) the winner in the elections. They allege that the poll results were fraught with irregularities and that the electoral process was mismanaged by MEC.
By virtue of the law, Mutharika was added to the case as the first respondent, while MEC is the second respondent.
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Chanzeru palibe and all of you applauding him you are his sympathizers. Why did he not condemn the msundwe residents for blocking dpp suppoters from going to a meeting held by APM? If he does not see a problem in this then what he says is useless
That means you dont follow him properly or you just hate him for nothing. Where were you when he personally condemned the murder of the police and blocking of the road? If there are wise leaders in this country, Chakwera is one of them. Dont just hate a person on basing on political differences.
There is no sense in whatever you have said, it was better you kept quite than showing your senseless words on the public. Chakwera said let us unite as Malawians and you are calling whatever he said senseless. Are you sensible yourself
Thanks a lot Mr Chakwera. We cherish your message of peace. Let’s unite and start rebuilding our nation. Let’s heal it. Let’s put Ngodya zinai into practice. We love our country and let none of us destroy it.
Typical. Anyone against what Chakwera has preached is obviously a beneficiary of looting, plunder etc in addition to being an enemy of Malawians. For those who have already prepared files for an appeal, it’s surprising the respondents already know they have lost the case.
Wasn’t the same guy preaching blood shed a few months ago! ???
We at DDP will appeal the case. Our appeal files are ready.
Muthawa
Lets reconcile and forge ahead this is our country Malawi
Mafuno abwino as he ascends to presidency!
If the court orders rerun, chakwera please pick Timothy hard hitter mtambo as runningmate. This man has done a lot to promote your party’s four cornerstones and deserves more than the greedy mwenye.
This is what we have been waiting for sir! Thanks for the fatherly advise
The judgement of the 5 constitution judges will be the yard stick interms of peace of the country. After the judgement the citizens will react towards peace or more violence even if Mr Chakwera can say those words.It is up to the citizens who are suffering every day with corruption, nepotism and other bad things happening in the country,if the citizens wants change ,which means they will stop at nothing until change happens then peace will come.But if there is no change while citizens wants change then there would be no peace in the country simple.Those people who are struggling… Read more »