Chilima withdraws evidence of 34 witnesses in Malawi elections case

September 12, 2019 Chem'bwana Nkolokosa –Nyasa Times 41 Comments

In a sudden turn of events, immediate past vice-president Saulos Chilima has decided to withdraw the evidence of his 34 monitors in the elections petition case who alleged electoral irregularities, the Constitutional Court heard on Thursday.

Chilima (centre) withdraws 34 witnesses who had made sowrn statement to court in elections case

Lead lawyer for Chilima, cool-talking Dr Chikosa Silungwe informed the Court that the UTM Party president, who is first petitioner in the case, was withdrawing the witnesses expedite the case or speedy resolution of the petition.

UTM has paraded four witnesses in the case which include Chilima, Mirriam Gwalidi a roving monitor, Darlington Ndasauka and Bright Kawaka, UTM Party’s deputy director of elections.

“Bringing another 34 witnesses to repeat what others have already will not add any value,” said Silungwe.

He said they did not want to have repetitions, saying the four witnesses so far have shed light on their case in arguing irregularities.

Considering that the other witnesses confessed in court that they exaggerated that there were “a litany of irregularities” that marred the elections in favour of President Peter Mutharika, Chilima is said to have feared for more embarrassment from the lawyers of respondents led by Frank Mbeta and Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale respectively in cross-examination.

However, UTM sources say most of the witnesses refused to come to court unless they are paid their dues for monitoring the elections on behalf of party.

The development means that it will now be the turn of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera to enter the witness stand as second petitioner in the case.

The case has been adjourned to Tuesday next week when Chakwera will lay out his case.

President Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), in his personal capacity as the declared winner, is the first respondent with Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) appearing as the second respondent.

The petitioners contend that Mutharika “won a fraudulent May 21 2019 Presidential Election” fraught with irregularities, including alleged tampering with election results sheets through correction fluid, popularly known as Tippex.

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41 replies on “Chilima withdraws evidence of 34 witnesses in Malawi elections case”

  4. The problem with opinionated writing. The writer trying his best to paint a gloomy picture of the situation. Writing lies about monitors refusing to testify due to unpaid allowances all to please his DPP paymasters.

  5. Ine ngati umboni wake ndauwona umene anthu mukunena Kuti mukhale so masankho a chibwereza. Ndimphekesera zokhazokha zimene zimakambidwa ndi mboni Za UTM. Panalibepo umboni uliwonse ogwirika. Ndipo ndizosadabwitsa kuti UTM yachepetsa mboni zake. Chifukwa chake ndichoti mbonizo zilibe umboni wogwirika. Akuopa kuchulukitsa mbwelera. Kuzipopa ngati finye konse kuja a Chilima mbwelera zake mkukhala zimenezi?

  6. This is the beginning of the end for the petitioners. The problem of using social media evidence in court is what we have just witnessed here, it crumbles like a pack of cards.

    Your withdraw has surely shaken Chakwera and his cohort, they trusted you and this action is tantamount to betrayal, look they have asked the court for more time to prepare or adjust to this.

    Now this withdraw will not go easy, you will pay for the cost incurred just as Mtambo n Trapence will, when the courts will vindicates Jane Ansah’s assertion that there was no rigging.

  7. Ndiye ndale zimenezo! Akumana uko, akumvera limodzi coffee, inu kuno kumangotukwanizana, iwo ali phee uko! Chilima is DPP, one doesn’t need a scientific calculator to know this! Anthuwa ndi amodzi! Tidzakhumudwa one day, adzatisiya uyu kukamwa kuli yasaaa, iye wapita Ku DPP!!!!

  8. Anthu ena apa ndinu zitsilu… you cant see kuti with witnesses or without Peter munthalika rigged elections? Kupusa lets build new Malawi of proper justice posatengera ndale ndi zigawo dziko likuonongeka ili mbava zachuluka mu boma zichoke including munthalika must go we need proper leadership osati izi..young people we shouldn’t tolerate this nonsense akuwononga tsogolo lathu awa kupangila ana awo ali kunja..CHAKWERA WILL TELL THEM THE TRUTH NEXT WEEK

    1. Prove to us that the elections were rigged popeza inuyo ndinu ochenjera enafe ndizitsilu. Komanso inuyo ndinu khothi panokha mwagamula kale mulanduwu

  12. Shanai, demonstrations do not warrant to go to the International Court of Justice. If you have no idea how the law works, please keep quiet. Which is more serious organising a demonstration and killing 20 unarmed people to merit the International Court of Jutice hearing? Was Bingu taken to ICJ? It pays off to be objective other than bringing up unthoughtful views.

  14. If you failed to pay your monitors what about Lawyers SKC . Please bring remaining witnesses we want money ife maloya bwanga

  19. Tsano mlandu wavutatu, utm grew too much too quickly and forgot to lay down proper structures. The one who coined the words ‘moto wamapesi’ was brilliant. No limit to how much chilima would fool himself chatsala apa ndi chingwe mkhosi

    1. So far from a legal point of view the first petitioner hasn’t moved the court sufficiently to contemplate a rerun..

    3. Surely 34 witnesses could have added additional information. Why did we collect art the sworn statements if you knew it would be repetitions.I am afraid you will pay dearly for this silly mistake.The legal bill will startle you..Sizaanatu izi

  21. Is the so called Mtambo also listening to court proceedings?He will pay heavily with his masters.There case should be dealt with the international court of Justice because they have shown no respect and regards to Malawi Judiciary.They are planting lawlessness in Malawi.Why did they go to the courts when they already judged themselves.lt is also amazing to see the international community just watching .We believe that they are the ones who push countries and organisation leaders to observe rule of law and they do not beat about the bush to punish .

      1. only if the they win the case. if u loose the case then u will pay ur own costs as well as the other party. the issue is like u brought an issue that is not an issue attall. waste of time

    4. We are ready to pay the cost if necessary and please just mind your business, we did not ask any tambala or kwacha from ur pocket!!!!!!!!!! sorry brother, we need new Malawi whether will be chilima or chakwela doesn’t matter. thanks kkkkkkkkk

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