HRCC calls for new MEC, fresh Malawi Tripartite Elections
Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has asked President Peter Mutharika to consider firing Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah together with her Commissioners and call for fresh tripartite elections within 150 days as stipulated by the Constitutional Court (ConCourt).
Mkwezalamba (2nd from right) addressing a news conference in Lilongwe. Photo by Watipaso Mzungu, Nyasa Times.
HRCC is a network of 97 civil society organizations (CSOs) comprising local civil society organizations with interest in the areas of protection of people’s rights, promotion of the human rights agenda, and safeguarding good governance and the rule of law,
HRCC chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba said on Monday that the solution to the prevailing political and constitutional crisis lies in the dissolution of MEC leadership and its Secretariat so that Malawi can achieve a universally accepted election result.
Mkwezalamba made these remarks when he appraised the media on the role civil society organizations (CSOs) will take in support of the concerned citizens who have filed a case seeking nullification of the Parliamentary and Local Government Elections in line with ConCourt ruling of 3rd February, 2020.
He said the Committee has understood the motivation for the legal pursuit in that it is not being pursued as a political vendetta despite the concerns arising from a political situation.
“As a nation, we need to set records straight through use of appropriate legal institutions to help us clear people’s myths and concerns over national matters. To this effect, we endorse and support their application as also highlighted below, which forms the basis of our entry into this matter,” said Mkwezalamba.
“It is a fact that both MPs and councilors benefited from the same Tippex, which messed up presidential vote, the same MEC commissioners and staff, the same party monitors and observers; hence, it cannot be fair and just to simply condemn presidential results and not the rest, there isn’t any equity here,” he added.
Mkwezalamba was flanked by other network members such as Clement Makuwa and Mike Banda, among others, when he addressed the Monday afternoon press briefing.
Banda said it remains a challenge to confirm MEC’s incompetency after managing over parliamentary and local government elections results successfully, but failed to manage results for only 12 presidential candidates.
“Yet still, it remains a mystery where over 35 electoral cases ended up with MEC successfully defending over 28 of its decisions! Whereas Malawi is a constitutional order and our learned judges found MEC incompetent, it follows even that all its pronouncements require being nullified on the basis of such incompetency. It remains common knowledge that the same incompetency they executed presidential polls applied to MPs and councilors,” said Banda.
Education ya umbuli.This is straight forward.This argument could not have come before the judgement.It is the selective judgement which has sparcked this and this affects all the parties.The election was a one package, don’t mislead people.Genuine people Al over know this and question ing.
Olivier, the president does not listen because he is a stone without senses. He only listens to his wife and that is why Gertrude is behaving like Gucci Grace Mugabe of Zimbabwe, who misled her husband and led him to his down fall due to selfishness and greed!
Lindi, remember that the court dealt with the complaints about the presidential votes because those who were not satisfied with the outcome lodged. It appears MPs and Councillors were satisfied or were afraid of the unknown and never put forward any complaint. The court could not, therefore, stretch forth its tentacles to pull in the MPs’ and Councillors’ issue because they never put forward a complaint of disatisfaction with the polls, which is their own fault and not the court’s!
i dont know why mr president does not listen to people who put him to power. he refuses to fire MEC chair, refuses to fire MEC commissioners. refusing to fire Chisale. and refusing to adhere to the voters demand. i hope one day i will get a good answer why such things happen. The bible says in chichewa “ngat udzaumitsa khosi lako utadzudzulidwa mokanira, udzathyoka modzidzimutsa opanda okuchiritsa” such things i pray should not happen to you bwana president. suppose dpp yachoka mu boma i tell you it will be so hard to return into government. it will be so… Read more »
It is MCP and UTM who want MEC commissioners to be fired (NOT PEOPLE). Lest you forget, it is the same MEC that delivered the current illegal MPs and councillors through the so-called tippex elections. Let the courts annul the parliamentary and local government election results.
Shaaa Ma MP ndi speaker kudzadzandima kuti dzandi dzandi Phiiii.
Fight an already known loosing battle. Presidential polls were challenged within its stipulated time. The parliamentary polls were challenged by individuals who were not satisfied. Those who presented their case and defended it beyond reasonable doubt carries the day. Where have you been to note about the anormallies Were you not there as observers? Why didn’t you bring you case with the evidence at first within the period.
Vuto lomakwera mmalo mogwira ntchito yanu mwachulungamo. Munaliwona kuti ili linali vuto ndithu koma munasekelera. Some MPs indeed benefited from these irregularities. Mwagenda katauluka
What I find shocking is that representatives of no less than 97 CSO’s can actually see merit in this argument regarding MPs and Councillors. Judges deal with what is before them; they are not there to achieve perfection. For example most people know that many cashgaters escaped justice for the simple reason that their “cases” were never brought to trial. These people are enjoying their ill gotten gains to this day, living in their “Nigerian” mansions and driving fancy cars. Those who went to jail are a fraction of all cashgaters. However, those languishing in jail cannot say, timasuleni chifukwa… Read more »
@ Jwa Mjipi thus why we say the judgment was compromised in many areas, firstly these judges focused on 50+1 when the applicant (utm n MCP) did not brought it (kuweluza nkhani yoti siinabweretsedwe mu court. In 1999 supreme court judgment it clearly determined who the winner should be, it never said the winner should get 50+1 but the one with more votes, thus why we have been using this system all along, another proof to this is there in the constitution. That is why the judges asked the mp’s to change the constitution to reflect their verdict. The judges… Read more »
No sanagende katauluka chigamulo chinanena momveka bwino kuti a MEC sanagwire ntchito yawo bwino. Zimatha kuchitika olo pa ntchito kuti bwana akuwabela malipilo a ntchito nde munthu m’modzi or awiri apita kukasuma nde bwalo lagamula kuti bwanayo amabadi izi zikutanthauza kuti a ntchito onse akuyenela kubwenzeledwa ndalama zawo.
Chomodzimodzi a papa ngati nkhoti linagamula kuti mec siinagwire ntchito yabwino ndichachiziwikile kuti chisankho chonse sichinayende bwino.
Tippex sanagwiritsidwe pa u president okha ayi komanso ma MP ndi ma councilors kotero kuti tijuyenelanso Ku vota mu zisankho zonse zapatatu
Very good point volume up please………..
Vuto la inu aMalawi ndi lakusavesa. The judgement of concourt was clear and well interpretated. And the evidence that were brought before them were very massive were also proved beyond reasonable doubt. MEC failed to defend themselves before the same court. Why blaming innocent judges agalu inu. Choti mziwe palibe mnthu amene anapitisa mlando ku court of zisankho zakunyumba yamalamulo kapena makonsolo ziyimisidwe. Anthu opusa inu mwachita bwanji kodi. Ndinu zisiru za anthu foseke zambwiyamwi ake
Mutu udawoola koma zipalapasiro zilibwino,nde chigamulo chemenecho aaaa,achingoti zonse zinayende bwino nakagwirizana nawo
Kukhulupirira ma court kudzandivuta tsopono