Concourt judges, MEC chair Kachale jointly named Nyasa Times ‘Person of the Year 2020’

Five judges of the High Court of Malawi, who presided over the landmark May 21 2019 presidential election nullification petition, and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)  chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale, who is also a High Court judge,  have been jointly named Malawi flagship online news platform, Nyasa Times 2020 “Person of the Year” on Friday.

Justice Kachale: Jointly named Nyasa Times 2020 “Person of the Year”
The judges who heard the case include Potani, Ivy Kamanga, Mike Tembo, Redson Kapindu and Dingiswayo Madise.

The five-judge panel of the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) led by its chairperson Judge Healey Potani,   Ivy Kamanga, Dingiswayo Madise, Redson Kapindu and Mike Tembo plus Justice Kachale were chosen from a list of finalists that included the Malawi Defence Force under both General Vincent Nundwe and Andrew Namathanga.

Nyasa Times sought nomination from various reputable commentators and analysts to nominate and give reasons for the accolade and  has collectively named the six judges as “person of the year” for 2020.

The publication’s ‘person of the year’ recognizes “the person or group of people who most influenced the news and the country – for better or for worse – during the past year”. It is decided by the Nyasa Times editorial directorate.

The  five judges  heard the matter as a ConCourt following certification of the matter as constitutional by Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda.

On February 3, despite facing death threats and attempted bribes,  the judges  proceeded to nullify the the May 21 2019 presidential election outcome and order a rerun over alleged irregularities, especially in the results management system as prayed by first petitioner Saulos Chilima of UTM Party and second petitioner Lazarus Chakwera of Malawi Congress Party.

The court further declared that then president Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was not duly elected and ordered a fresh presidential election within 150 days.

The ruling also went a step further, changing the nation’s electoral system from a first-past-the-post model to one that requires a candidate to secure an outright majority to get elected.

 Kachale handled the fresh presidential elections taking over from Justice Jane Ansah.

Justice Kachale’s professionalism and demonstrating crisis management and leadership during the fresh elections earned him to be jointly named ‘person of the year’.

Governance expert Makhumbo Munthali said the choice of ‘‘person of the year’  was plausible.

Commenting on Kachale, he said: “His vigilance and determinations to see Malawi held the elections in the context of threats of Covid-19, the then government unsuccessful attempts to stop elections and limited funding was amazing.”

The Nyasa Times  introduced the ‘Person of the Year’ accolade in 2010.

Last year Ombudsman Martha Chizuma was named as ‘person of the year’ as she continued trailblazing with an approach to public office so alien to the country.

In 2018 Youth and Society (YAS),  a civil society organisation (CSO) that advocates for youth empowerment and Human Rights Defenders Coalition  (HRDC) were jointly named 2018’s “Person of the Year” by Nyasa Times.

In 2017 Nyasa Times  named Mzuzu-based governance and youth rights advocate Charles Kajoloweka  as its 2017 Person of the Year.

In 2016  Nyasa Times named seven youthful Malawians  –  Wanangwa Msutu, Duwa Mvula, Milca Mphepo, Tiyanjane Kapalamula, Ruth Gondwe, Ivy Chilingulo and Kalolo Msaka -who set off on May 30 for a 362-kilometre 10-day charity walk from Lilongwe to Blantyre   to raise funds to buy medical equipment for the High Dependency Unit of Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) paediatric ward

In 2015 Nyasa Times named Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mrs Mary Dominica Kachale as its 2015 Person of the Year or notching 15 convictions in the ongoing Cashgate Scandal, and for remaining unintimidated by potential convicts who may probably be trying all they can to avoid jail.

In 2014 the title went to ‘Malawi Media’ and late journalist Ralph Tenthani for work in informing the masses during the year of elections, playing rightful role as public watchdog and also keeping the nation updated on cashgate scandal.

And the year before that, Nyasa Times named Consumer Association of Malawi (Cama) executive director John Kapito as person of the year because he consistently spoke against bad social, economic and political policies that impact negatively on consumer.

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Phyot Olera Kun Yini
3 years ago

Tumbuka people want us believe that Kachale is a performer and yet he found everything about the Re-run already done by Jane Ansa. How come that you are believing that everything about a general election can be done in two weeks? Kachale anangotola yophaipha. And your Kachale allowed elections to proceed and votes to be counted without DPP monitors in Central Region. Was that a fair judgement from the MEC chair? Is Kachale not heavily compromised on this? Ifenso akummwera we shall hack and chase MCP monitors in 2025 tidzawone kuti Kachale adzatani because we already have a precedence. To… Read more »

Kumavalo Nsamaonetsa Nyoni
Kumavalo Nsamaonetsa Nyoni
3 years ago

If doing your job well makes you a person of the year,we are all persons of the year.

ZIOne izi
ZIOne izi
3 years ago

This case was set up case. The judges made their case and ruled over it. What they wanted was to remove APM from government under any cost. But sadly what is happening now is not what they had expected. Chakwera is probably the weakest president and he has already been captured by the likes of Mia, Nkaka and Chimwendo Banda. If he has balls he should remove these people from cabinet and that will be his down fall

Me you
Me you
3 years ago
Reply to  ZIOne izi

People just wanted to get famous by removing APM but they had no any idea on the way forward.

Nambuma Girl
Nambuma Girl
3 years ago

From the bottom of my heart, I am Personally Proud of Our Five Judges and of course Dr. Chifundo Kachale for Running the Elections Smartly. You Have Done Us (Malawians) Much Proud. I Can Now Proudly Say I am a Malawian. Unlike the the time of Jezebel Jane Ansah going outside Malawi was a nightmare as we were receiving insults left and right that Jane Ansah “has sold Malawi” to Thieves. Now Tonse Government especially MCP, Becareful and Don’t Take Malawians For Granted! You will be sorry. MEC Chair wake si Chifundo Kachale, its samachita nawo za phada ngati za… Read more »

Nyusesi
3 years ago
Reply to  Nambuma Girl

Kachale found the Re-run elections already planned by Jane Ansa to it’s end. There is no way he could have done everything within two weeks as others want us believe that Kachale was behind the success of the elections. Everything was actually done by Jane Ansa and not this embicile Kachale.

ERUTU
ERUTU
3 years ago

Zowonadi ⚖️💪🏿🇲🇼

The Patriot
3 years ago

Shupiti

Popote changono
Popote changono
3 years ago

Mbuzi zachabechabe izi.

Nyasatimes should have awarded Mr napoléon dzombe for the miracle he is doing and efforts to change the face of dowa District. His contribution to the people of Malawi exceeds that of these judges combined.

Mwinithako
Mwinithako
3 years ago

That is not a true reflection on the results of the elections.This guy did not do the rightful thing at all.What Malawians should know is that The Judicairy was heavily bribed by Simbi Phiri of Khato Civil Engineering at I Billion Kwacha each.God just watched it and Renick Matemba failed to undertake the issue ,but instead was trempling on Mpinganjira.The elections were just nullified for their own benefit.We will see as we go along.Come 2025.Tonse alliance will never bounce back into power even if the judges rally behind them.There are also learned lawyers who saw it that the final judgement… Read more »

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