Chakwera wants State to prosecute MEC officials over Malawi ‘Tippex elections’
President Lazarus Chakwera has expressed open disappointment with the director of Public Prosecutions office for its failure to prosecute Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) presiding officers over the messy 2019 presidential election which was nullified.
Speaking at Kamuzu palace in Lilongwe, Chakwera said the High Court and Supreme Court determined that hundreds of presiding officers broke the law in their handling of the 2019 presidential election.
The High Court, sitting as a Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court, in the election case, ruled that the use of tippex by some presiding officers in the 2019 presidential election was illegal, among other issues.
“When I say we must clear the rubble, it is important to understand what the rubble is and who is responsible for clearing it.
“Essentially, clearing the rubble means four things. First and foremost, it means removing those from our state institutions who have committed criminal offences. Take the Malawi Electoral Commission, for example. Both the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeals determined that hundreds of presiding officers broke the law in their handling of the 2019 presidential election, and yet today, more than a year after those crimes were committed, there is no sign of any of them being prosecuted by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, nor is there any sign that they have been dismissed from the public service,” said Chakwera.
The President said the office bearers responsible for clearing the rubble should not imagine that “we as Malawians will relent from calling for the rule of law or that we will look the other way.”
There was no immediate comment from the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mary Kachale.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
My own understanding is that anyone who was supposed to get involved in criminal matters should currently not be involved in any election until proven clean by court of Justice. For instance MEC is being ran by a high court judge who clearly knows the laws of Malawi as a country but he chose to remain quiet. What we should all know is that in any democratic rule of government there is a President who is on top of everyone hence other patterns should clearly listen and educate the President where he is not right than remaining quiet though it… Read more »
Chakwera the bulutu! Kodi wayiwala kuti unamwanya malamulo a chisankho mdziko muno polengeza kuzera pa msonkhano WA atolankhani kuti wapambana chisankho cha 2019? Anakumanga ndi ndani? Ngati Kuli kumanga DPP ayambire iweyo, sidik, mkaka, ndi gulu lako munapanga msonkhano WA Atolankhani. Fotseki
There should be undoubted criminal activity worthy prosecutable ( some say prima facie case). I can recall in his judgement that Justice Healy Potani saying that there was no rigging proven but there were irregularities allover. There was no criminal intent proven although the formation of constituency tally centers were unconditional. The judge focussed more on the commissioners’ competency and directed for their assessment. They were assessed and found incompetent and are no longer there except for the two that should also go. What more does the President want; vengeance?
They should be all prosecuted so as to ensure that others do not do that in future elections.
My take is that this President is so inexperienced that he can hardly make a sound decision.He is fast loosing direction.Goofing after goofing.Sorry Chakwera that’s what you wanted.Mwana akakakamira nyanga ya msansi msemere infotere yekha
Chakwera you need to slow down. The high speed you have taken will lead you to danger. What you should realise is that MEC never did any wrong in that presidential election and every Malawian including the International observers are aware of this. Even the Judges that ruled in your favour know this. If MEC were in the wrong, the current MPs would not hold their positions up until today. If MEC did it wrongly, that means we would have a triapartite election all over again. The Judges ruled in your favour because they saw it fit that the government… Read more »
if Chakwera is clearing the rubble then he should start at state house.He is sweeping his rubble under the carpet .He should know that he is counting down the years and so far nothing is being shown on the ground except kumanga anthu
The only achievement this president is registering is arresting previous govt officials and he is doing so with zeal. Ofcoz we know he is cleansing the ground for his own sake. To plant people who will run his agenda fearing SKC will topple him. Otherwise it would be ideal for him to focus on development. Kumangako Mangani koma osati in this fashion. This is more a political move.
If he suspended those culprits to pave way for ACB, then perhaps people could have taken him for a serious man.
Ochakwera ku lubwa uku sikuthandiza zoona ma PO onse awamange kapena mukudziwapo ena