HRDC says Mutharika out of sync with reality in Malawi
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has lashed out at President Peter Mutharika for his remarks that he will not remove Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah and for condemning the protests the grouping has been carrying as violent.
Mutharika speaking on BBC’s Newsday Programme on Monday said HRDC with support of opposition parties, refused to accept results of the May 21 elections and went to court to challenge the results yet at the same time demanding the resignation of Ansah through demonstration.
“They are demanding her [Ansah] resignation and at the same time they are in court. So that is where the problem is,” said Mutharika.
The Malawi leader said the May election was “fair and credible”, saying even the American government said his re-election was through successful polls.
HRDC has been leading nationwide demonstrations to force Ansah to resign for allegedly presiding over a flawed May 21 presidential election, which was marred by use of correction fluid Tippex to alter figures on result sheets.
Reacting to Mutharika’s BBC remarks, HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo said the President is out of sync with reality.
“He is detached from reality. It shows Mutharika has no idea what’s really happening in the country and how Malawians feel,” said Mtambo.
Mtambo said HRDC will not relent with the protests until Ansah leaves MEC.
HRDC, which has been holding demonstrations since the announcement of the May 21 presidential election results, wants Ansah to resign to pave the way for investigations into identifying and prosecuting those who supplied Tippex that was used to alter elections figures on result sheets.
The demonstrations have in some cases been marred by looting and violence.
Ansah, a judge of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, has dismissed calls for her to resign, saying she would only step down if the court found her leadership to have failed to discharge its duties.
MEC declared President Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) winner of the presidential race in the May 21 Tripartite Elections with 1 940 709 votes, representing 38.57 percent.
He was trailed by MCP presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera who came second with 1 781 740 votes, representing 35.41 percent while his UTM Party counterpart Saulos Chilima came a distant third with 1 018 369 votes ,representing 20.24 percent, ahead of four other aspirants.
UTM Party president Saulos Chilima and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader Lazarus Chakwera filed a petition in the Constitutional Court seeking nullification of the presidential election results. They cite alleged flaws in the results management process as a key factor for their case.
The hearing is set to continue on September 3 after a week-long break following an 11-day initial process in which Chilima and one witness Mirriam Gwalidi took to the witness stand.
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Tell Mtombo and his henchmen that it’s not about how they feel but justice. What Mtumbo feels or says is not justice but shall come out of the constitutional court where every concerned party is given a chance to be heard. Malawi has laws and dispute settlement mechanisms not Mtumbo’s wishes, directives or verdicts.
Mtembo dare to come to Mulanje, Thyolo, Phalombe Chiradzulu, Mangochi, Machinga, Nsanje, Chikwawa, to mobilize anthu for Demo, tione ngati udzayiwone njira yobwerera kwanu
Timothy pilizi udziti some Malawians not all Malawians, the fact that some are silent does not mean dziko lonse likugwilizana ndi zimene iwe ukuganiza.
Taemoteo Ntumbo ndi anthu ako,ngakhale mutaitana Maloya a USA or UK pamadala simungamake Muzingolimbikila kunyambita mokhalilamo baaaas
Taemoteo Ntumbo ndi anthu ako,ngakhale mutaitana Maloya a USA or UK pamadala simungamake.Muzingolimbikila kunyambita mokhalilamo basss.
PITALA DONT HAVE SKILLS OF LEADER SHIP, HOW CAN HE SAY HE IS WAITING FOR THE COURT PROCEDING WHILE THE COUNTRY IS ON FIRE SO IT MEANS THAT HE WILL BE WAITING FOR COURT PROCEDINGS WHILE THE COUNTRY IS BURNING, KUGANIZA KOPELEWERA NKHALAMBA IMENEYI
Mukuyatsa motowo just to achieve your mob justice? Kupepera kwenikweni. Mufune musafune boma lidikira chigamulo cha constitutional court basi not your culvert justice. Anything outside that is illegal and shall be dealt with accordingly.
The Malawi 21 may tripitite election case in courts judgment will held after five years of Peter mthalika and the MEC chairperson Jane ansah’s appointed time in the office hahaha
Koma mr mtambo mmutumo zikuyenda kapena ziwanda? nkhalani ndi umunthu komaso umulungu
Ndi khani ziwili zosiyana izi.
Sizikugwilizana apa
Peter should resign.His speach on BBC was marred with irregularities.
KKKKKK – Koma anyamata muli ndi ntchito
This Mtambo man could be mentally disturbed if he cannot follow a simple discussion on the BBC. The main issue discussed is so simple: there is an ongoing court case to determine whether or not the elections were mismanaged. If this is the case, why has HRDC already come up with its judgement that the elections were mismanaged and people should go out to the streets and demonstrate? Is this not disrespecting the court process? Then there is an issue of violence during demonstrations, people throwing stones at vehicles, shops, houses, offices, looting and injuring people, burning houses, why does… Read more »
Mind you..the HRDC and the people aren’t protesting against the results..rather the resignation of the MeC chair
Resign on what basis? different from ths issue in court?
Aaaah, nanunso a Mahuna ndi ombwambwana zedi. “…the HRDC and people aren’t protesting the results….rather the resignation of the MeC chair”? You mean they just want her to resign without any reason?