It is not rocket science: Malawi 2019 elections were not credible
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. — Proverbs 6:16-19
The Malawi Government, in its inability to embrace, understand and accept scores of Malawians countrywide, has embarked on a spate of anti-citizen activities to quell the unrest arising from the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections. Oftentimes, such actions are undemocratic, others downright cruel, unkind and bent on rabblerousing malevolent members of their political party to vent abuse on anyone deemed to be “anti-government”. The last straw is most recently the fire-spitting President Peter Mutharika who ordered the police and military to use force on people that go on the street.
This is condoning violence that is akin to mob justice coupled with dictatorial decrees. And so, in my writing, I rise, giving my opinion, my analysis and my advice on these matters that threaten the fabric of our fragile democracy. Many people ask me why I do the things I do? Why do I write? Why do I always seem to be on the other side of the argument? Some have even said that I should go back to school and learn how to write.
Apart from my robust passion for writing, I have a deep-rooted desire to inspire people, advocate for their rights and empower them to reach their potential. These three pillars would make the people independent, capable members of society that can pull themselves up, using the tools furnished to them on a level playing field, by their elected officials, and thereby attaining a flourishing life that feeds into the development of our nation, Malawi.
Malawians have come out of their homes, gone onto the streets, voiced their discontent at what they believe to be a stolen election verdict. What would my mother and father have done, knowing they were politically inclined? My mother would have prepared meals for the marching men and women; my father would have called the President and given him advice on critical and prudent steps to take in the situation. This is damage control and massaging the wounded. Such steps as holding a referendum, holding elections so that the people are given the opportunity to make their choices, however bitter they may be.
In today’s scenario, it would not cost Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chair Jane Ansah much to resign, anymore than it would cost the President anything to call for a re-run of the elections.
As a God-fearing nation, there should be no Malawian who revels in the suffering of his or her fellow countrymen or countrywomen; there should be no Malawian who plots the widespread demolishing, looting and thrashing of entire populations on the basis of their political affiliations; and there should be no Malawian who maliciously taunts his fellow Malawian with intent to steal, kill, and destroy him or her.
I am inspired by my love of my country, I advocate for the down-trodden (in this case, the demonstrators, whose voices are being drowned by the powerful minority in government) and writing messages of hope that would empower this down-trodden citizenry, is what keeps me awake at night.
What will it take for the MEC chair to follow through the people’s demands to resign? What will it take for the Malawi leader to call for a re-run the elections, to right the wrong created by over 147 anomalies? Evidence in the election investigation, shows that tally sheets were grossly tampered with during and after election monitors signed the sheets. It is not rocket science: the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections were not credible. Let genuine democracy ring forth!
It is ironical that the quote at the beginning of the article stands for what MCP did to Malawi for 30 year when Janet Karim’s own father (Mr Mbekeani) worked with the dictator, Dr Banda. Possibly, Janet Karim has forgotten that she is a Mbekeani – she is hiding under the Karim name. But, we know you very well.
So, Janet was serious about her father having direct access to the President (“…my father would have called the President and given him advice …”), and in a way boasting about it. And probably also wishing she had such access now. Dreaming on: times change. This time for the better.
Mr Mbekeyani, as a longtime ambassador in the US was marked as traitor by the progressives, those opposed to his boss and the dictator, Kamuzu Banda.
And, Mr Mbekeyani ratted out many Malawians in the diaspora in the US at the time. He may as well have blood on his hands, albeit indirectly.
The challenge of being a biased emotional writer is that you soil your supposedly good reputation. It is highly annoying to read senseless stories from ‘intellectuals like you’ simply because you are a party sympathizer.
Good writers remain objective at all times. They are not carried away by emotions unless the emotions are logically justified. Hate should not drive your urge to write, but the need to inform should.
Sincerely your response [@ Tiyeseni Phiri] looks heavily bent on the differences between you and Janet Karim, and not on the issue at hand!! If we are to bring the demands from people of Lilongwe South East constituency who are calling for a by-election which is coming in following the death of Agness Penemulungu two weeks before the 21 May election, is Jane Ansah seeing herself to be accepted by the opposition parties to run the by-election? Kodi kukanililaku, is it because of the “good money” she gets at MEC or there is something else? Even if she is to be Chair in 2014, does she see Malawians allowing her to coordinate another general election? Moti APM nayenso zikumuvuta kumupatsa Jane Ansah another equally senior position in government just as a means of dosing the people’s anger? Vuto ndi chani? Ngakhale ukakhala mpila, ngati team imodzi ikukana kuti referee ayimbile pa zifukwa zomwe iwo ali nazo ndi referee yo, sizimathekatu kukakamila? Now what’s more with a national issue!! Ndi chani chimene Ansah amadziwa iye yekha mwakuti ndizotheka kupeleka mpata kuti ena apitilize ntchito kuti MEC izipitilira ndi ntchito zake? Tsopano ndi izi zomwe LL South East people nawonso akunena kuti the law provides that the maximum period a constituency is to be without an MP is 60 days! As such they feel marginalized now that MEC seems not prepared to run an election!! Nde mkumati, moti Ansah akuona ndithudi kuti achititsa chisankho chimenecho ngati APM angawine mulanduuuuuuuu!!! Ok, let’s wait and seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee……….. time is slowly solving the straight forward issue!!
i think jane ataona kuti thing were out of order angoti nanga titani kuthana nayo nkhani, tingoti wawina ndi pitala.nde ndiizi. amaona ngati tikanali mwa dzana mommuja kumangoti eya cabwino.
kaphale ndi uyu pano anthu ali kokasamba kaye nlhoko
Can anyone prove to me that the majority in Malawi are protesting with tangible statistical evidence?
Such arguements will take Malawi nowhere. In Malawi we just need change whether you are a Lomwe or not. Malawi is bleeding. All countries sarrounding us are way much much better than us, koma izi zomati ndine mlomwe ndiye it is a must for me to support DPP taononga nazo dziko. in history of Malawi, never have we sank so low that one group of people benefits more than everybody, it is only during the rein of DPP. DPP has destroyed our country. Where one comes from should not be a qualification for one to prosper, but hard work. Future generations will laugh at these people because whether DPP likes it or not, things will change, it could not be today, but certainly it will change. These riches you have accumulated will perish at the blink of the eye, believe me on not you Dausi, Ben Phiri, Mchacha, Jose, Mwapasa, Mukhito and others. It has taken all three regions to develop Malawi, but for someone to believe that one region contributes more than the other is just very unfortunate.
You should sometimes learn to be ashamed the whole old retired professor stealing votes? that is embarrassing for him and you are here to support that? shame on you. Do you think all these people on the streets are mad/insane and you are an upright thinking person. Ha Amalawi penapake kumaganizako ngati anthu. These stupid mentority will not take us anywhere our friends out there are developing while you are busy stealing.
IN MALAWI O +0= :2 ——–EVEN OUR PROFESSORS DOCTORS GRADUATES AGREE —–‘-‘SO DO WE EXPECT THE COUNTRY TO PROSPER ??? NO WAY !! UNLESS WE REVOLUTIONISE THE COUNTRY —
AS FAR AS EVERYONE KNOWS, DPP DOES NOT WANT AN ELECTION RERUN BECAUSE DPP CANNOT WIN IT, PETER MUTHALIKA IS OLD AND POLITICALLY BANKRUPT, AT 80 IS NOT A JOKE.IMAGINE AFTER BANNING OUR TAX MONEY,AFTER USING ALL THOSE GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND EVENING USE OF TIPPEX, DPP MANAGED TO GET ONLY 38% OF THE VOTES??????DPP IS THE MOST MISERABLE RULING PARTY THAT MALAWI HAS EVER HAD.
They got only 38% of the votes and won. The question is that is this legal? The answer is yes! Are you happy that your party lost? The answer is no! Do you vent your anger on the victor? The answer is no! Do you vent your anger on the referee? The answer is no?
Are the rules for declaring the winner clear? The answer is yes!
Have you misplaced your anger? The answer is yes! Probably your party is not attractive to most Malawians.
Does the law stipulate conditions for rerun of the election? What are the conditions?
Any reported instances where a voter was barred from voting?
Be good losers in order to become good winners in the future!
Nawenso Tiyeseni Phiri, mwalandila chani kodi? Ukanakhala kuti m’mutumo zimayenda ukanadikila the final verdict from the court before making the careless conclusion that the DPP win of the 21 May election was legal…………………….!! Nde popeza waonetsa kale who you’re, mwina kulibwino kukusiya…………….. popeza akale akulu ananena kale kuti: “Empty vesicles make the most ujeni, ndangodutsatu ineeeeeeeeeeeeee wamva Tiyeseni!!
Mai Karim,if your assertion is correct, when are you staging naked demonstrations to force Chakwera to resign as a member of parliament? Remember he was elected by the same Malawi election and in his acceptance that the Malawi elections were credible he dutifully was sown in as a Member of parliament.
When are you asking Abida Mia to resign as an MP?
Are you sure Right Honourable Madam Hara is not a legitimate Speaker? She became Speaker by virtue of winning a Malawi election as an MP, are you Janet questioning her legitimacy? Remember it was Malawi elections that declared her the winner and it does not require rocket science to understand this.
Right Honourable Lowe is the acting leader of opposition which means that the party he represents is in opposition. I am sure, Janet, you will agree with me that you do not need rocket science to understand this obvious fact. All that was a result of Malawi election. Right Honourable Lowe would not have received that honour had he not won the credible Malawi election as member of parliament.
The only thing I would agree with you Janet is to declare Right Honourable Lowe substantive leader of opposition because the party he represents in parliament credibly became second in the credible Malawi election.
Well written article but of course the DPP diehards will not listen to advice, these are the kind of people who have nothing else to do in life except for being in power and plundering our resources, giving their own kin contracts and positions! Without power the whole tribe cannot survive!! I look forward to the day( and as sure as the sun rises from the east this day will come) when DPP and Mulhako will be out of government and then the chickens will come home to roost…musazanene kuti okhwuzani panalibe!!!
Kodi madam did you audit or you are just following people who are going to the streets
What about waiting to hear from the courts
Some Malawians will believe lies
You remember the blood sucking saga
Shupiti zako. Janet Karim, who do you think you are? Some of us (and many for that matter) feel the 2019 elections were credible. Iweyo unadyelera ndi abambo ako a Nyemba Mbekeani nthawi ya Kamuzu ndi MCP. Sizinakukwane? FOTSEKI
Ooohhh.
Mwana wa dictatorship eti? Ayalusidwe basi.
Janet Karim is ‘nee Mbekeani.’ Her father was a senior official in the MCP government of our dictator, Hastings Kamuzu Banda. She comes from the rich Nyemba Mbekeani family and what annoys some of us is to see people who looted Malawi during Dr Banda’s autocratic reign pretending to be saints when they tortured this country. Uyaluka Janet Mbekeani Karim.
Nde popeza a Mbekeani looted, you believe she should shut up!! Do you accept she is a Malawian and pays tax monthly? If you are literate, I suggest you know how much the University professors pay monthly………… and mukufuna asamalankhule popeza bambo ake anachitapo zonyansa? Nd tikamati ndinu ana a lucifer, simukhululuka tikunama? Where on earth are children punished because of the sins of parents!! Is it wrong to say that nde kuti inuyo you’re defending becoz you too are benefiting from the tippexed results, and would want to keep up benefiting irrespective of what some of us feel……………………………..!! Ndinu zitsiru ndi abambo anuwo inunso…………………!! Abambo anuwotu anathawa, ndipo kunalibe nthawi imene timalimbana ndi Kamuzu mukumunena pa nkhani iyiyi……………..!! Nde mukangochoka uko kumalankhula zotumbwa zanuzo, mukudziona ngati ndani inuyoooooooooooooo!! Musaopseze anzanu becoz we all pay tax and will never sit back seeing idiots looting our resources………….. fotsekiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go go go go go go go go go go go go go go go Janet Karim!! Osazimvela dziana za mbavaziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
@Central
It’s NOT only about who pays taxes and how much!
Nanga bwa kumangonyoza ena akalemba zoyipa za Mbwiye wa MCP, Dictator Kamuzu?
Za zii basi.
Janet Karim distorting facts here: the truth is majority of Malawians are NOT demonstrating, and are of the stern opinion that the last elections, including the Presidential one, were run and concluded as fairly as humanly possible, and there was no consequential errors. Evidence galore from even foreign monitors greatly admired even by the official as well as the unofficial (read certain NGOs) opposition.
You don’t seem to appreciate or understand the complexity of running an election to perfection – almost never. And a rule of thumb, actually, is if you don’t understand something to it’s core, then it is “rocket science”. So, there you go.
I say this with due respect and civility; No derision.
What your mom would have done is commendable; hear! hear! Ditto for the shout out for your dad on what would he too would have done. However, it’s not rocket science to know that the President would also have been afforded advice to the contrary; and the buck stops with him. Always.
Finally, you seem to have taken self-aggrandizing to a new higher level. Not advisable for a “columnist” and will not win accolades. Let your narratives, in your writing do that for you.
Kuzitama kumeneko mukutengela Chilima eti?
A lier. Majority are protesting and happy with protests
Ine ndikukumvetsani chifukwa kuwelengela inu simumatha……………….. ndi zomwe zija za amayi anu zija zoti K1 million kwacha imalemela 1 ton……..! Nde ngakhale anthu atabwela ku mseu ochuluka motani simungaimvomele kuti akubwela ambiri……………………….!! Ndipo akanakhala akubwela ochepa nde a police akananena kuti alephelaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa kufikila kuti ambuyanuwo akukanika kubwela ku LL, Mz, KA, CP, KU etc. Awansoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ukuona ngati pali za phadaaaaaaaaaaaa pa nkhani meneyi etiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!
kkkkkkk So long as MCP and UTM maintain the same Presidents. These parties will keep on crying even in the future elections.
You are afraid of them. Chimulirenji and Peter never win. Wait and you will evidence. Cooked data.
Janet Karim .Its very shame for you to write rubbish now in your article.You don’t know what you are missing at the moment.You better shut up,I think so.There is nothing sense in what you are telling Malawians,but only to fuel people’s burning hearts!!
She write sense. The verse in her story should scare you. That is the truth and there is nothing you can do to change that. It’s alive and you must be scared and trembling at that. Beware!
What’s goes around comes around slow but surely Jourdan’s timuoroka
Why is the President hesitant to fire Jane Ansah? Why is he desperately scared to call for a rerun if he wants to win the confidence of majority electorates? Can this be interpreted as constructively accepting elections were indeed rigged, and so, calling for the rerun would confirm it? Mr President, was it really the people who sent you to state house to which you have decided to lend a deaf ear to the same? Is it………………………………….???? Words fail.
IF HE FIRES HER WHAT NEXT???
………….the next thing for APM is appointing a new MEC Chairperson…………………… moti sukudziwa? Awansooooooooooooooooooooo!
Malawi Crocodile Party-MCP kuwina munakufunadi keep on trying
Kape iwe, ntchito kudziwa kuloza zala anzanu ukafunse abale ake a Lule kapeni Chasowa kapenanso aja anafa pa 20 July 2011 aja kuti amati chani za dpp!! Ukamva kuti magazi a anthu amenewa akanamveka mfungo kufikila lelo lino ndi manda awo sanamele udzu!! Ndipo sitisiya kulimbana nanu kufikila mutachotsedwa m’mene tinamuchotsela Kamuzuyo APM kulibe, koma kubwela kudzangosokoneza dziko lathuli ………….ndipo mumuuze kuti akuti siasiya mpakampakaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
Inuyo ndi amene munakufunitsitsitsa ku winako……………………. abale nanga mpakana tippex………………..!! Koma mwationjeza kwambiri!! No wonder ka phale went full throtal mvekele is 0.529% of 5002 polling stations significant? Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeshi moti kusawelengela ma voti a ma polling station 27 ndi zinthu zochepa? How many polling stations are in Neno? Mukuona ngati amene mukuwauzani ndi dzimbuli kwambiri zakudziwa kuti 0.529% of 5002 ndi chani eti?
You had the opportunity to present your rigging evidence to court. Why were you sleeping instead of tendering your evidence to court?
Over 800 rigging evidence is already with the court, and proceedings resume tomorrow Sept 3, 2019. This phase will inform you more than ever……………………………..!!
This is a trash article. What do you mean by anti citizen campaign? Are you implying that all Malawians are causing havoc in the streets? There are so many other Malawians who are okay with the current regime and never participating in the quest for mob justice. The government has a mandate to maintain order. In as far as I remember, the use of force that was mentioned by APM was against chocking of airports and borders. That was utter arrogance aimed at chocking government operations. APM is the commander in chief of Malawi Defence force which is mandated to protect the sovereignty of the country. Aren’t borders and airports key points in regards to protecting the country’s sovereignty?
Any 5000 people that can come together in the streets are capable of chocking it. But Malawi is a nation of 18+ Million people. For every person that goes on the street to demonstrate against Jane Ansah, there are several more who are at home against the demonstrations.
You dunderhead, go and give your stupid evidence in court. Nyasatimesq is not a court.
A nation prospers when there is peace and stability not human rights or elections for that matter. Lee Kwan Yew transformed Singapore from third world to first world even though demos and private media were restricted if not prohibited.
Poor nations like Malawi should not not waste time and resources championing rights to demonstrate or indeed correcting past elections. If they hold elections such countries need to observe lessons learnt and move.
I hate it when our tax (k300m) is being used to pay lawyers for arguing and deciding something as stupid and useless as elections. Seriously???
You must be a crook – good news the case is in the courts
Mbava iwe, can’t you appreciate that while Malawians did all you have said after 2014 elections, the vote stealing culture is continuing and if left unchecked it will go all the way to 2084 as the thieves are publicly saying………………………………..!! Awanso, osangonena kuti mukudya nawo zakubazooooooooooo
Me I dont really Understand this woman Jane Ansah the reason why she fails to resign citing the following;
1) The woman is called herself Pastor
2) The woman too Rich with numerous houses in Lilongwe and Blantyre namely Area 10,Area 12, old Area
43, Nyambadwe, Namiwawa and BCA Hill.
3) The is about to retire with Judiciary and cant she leave her best Legacy than creating her name BAD
Is she trying to serve the interests of other people Or what is it really. Friendship Or what
Usova, mukulephera kupereka umboni, you call those star witnesses. People full of hate and malice. Court is about facts not emotions
MY WOMAN NOW!!
LECTURE THEM!
I have not read the whole of this article. But I believe the President is right in asking the security personnel to use force against the demonstrators. If the demonstrators are damaging and looting my property, then the Government is doing well in protecting me by asking the security personnel to confront the demonstrators. Those going for demonstrations seem to be many because the opposition have now united after the elections, but they are uniting at a wrong time. They should have come together before the elections to defeat the Government. But hey split the vote and have lost. Now they want to resort to violence to take over power by force. No, the game is not played like that. This is not democracy. Our civilized colleagues must be looking at us now, laughing and saying, ‘look at those monkeys.’
Miss Janet Karim, when did you become a judge? If you have evidence, bring it to the courts. Osamangolubwalubwa.
Ansah should NOT resign.
Why have Opposition disguised as HRDC formed a parrarel court.
No to mob justice! She has said she will resign if the courts find that the elections were marred. Wht is your hurry?
ngati munawina sumunaere mukuopa chani?Joice banda nzanu anakwanilitsa kunena kuti anthu avoteso inu bwanji mukukanika chifukwa aanthu anakuvoterani aja alipo
Why can’t she step down and wait for the court to vindicate her? In really world suspects are first arrested and brought before the court, if they were working they are interdicted/suspended. Jane Ansah is a suspect therefore she should be asked to step aside. When the court finds that there was nothing wrong she will continue with her job.
Court issue is separate from the ethical issue of resigning. Even just based on the audit report, MEac should be ashamed of itself as an organization.
Do you know what ethical is?? NO ONE CAN BE FORCED TO RESIGN ON ETHICAL ISSUES!!! YOU RESIGN ON YOUR OWN IF YOU DEEM ETHICAL ISSUES WARRANT YOU TO RESIGN!!!
Go ask the people at next demos in two weeks time whats the hurry? i’m sure they will ask you! Rather hiding behind your computer with internet paid for by your organisation! People cant even afford home fibre internet cause of retrogressive development( Thus one reason I would go to the street if I was a protestor but like I said go get your answers on the next demo great place to get ur query answered)
A well written analysis based on clear perception of truth. To any God fearing person the solutions are as simple as what you have stated. The chair person must resign and the president should call for a re-rerun. Trying to force people’s acceptance by manipulating the constitution, using thin arguments in court (percentages, come on!), and deploying forces against the people will only lead to disaster.
mmmmmmm osati kuti inuyo mumafuna chakwera bwa???
Just prove to the court that the elections were not credible…fraud happened… Rigging..More over the opposition moved the courts to decide.
Thumbs up Janet Karim you are really an expert in your field those of us who have entered the class of peace and security conflict resolution we know what you are talking about. A conflict is better solved at a latent stage. In all tools for conflict resolution court is the worse my expert lecturer told us in class because it does not solve other issues here the political solution and underlying factors behind all this mess. The mess is not all about the elections but other factors. The elections has only been the trigger. The issues in Malawi is inequality,nepotism,discrimination,tribalism,regionalism,poverty,helpless farmers, and unemployment of the youth. Look at the demo attendance analyze age you will see to it.
My messege to the government and opposition, I repeat today take it from me no one will win this battle through court, but only both of you coming together for the seek of innocent Malawians and find a solution using faithful dialogue and genuine reconciliation for the country to move forward.
One option is to withdraw the case from court and the president order for rerun with both parties in agreement as a court alternative resolution mechanisms. No one should point a finger at the other because that will be a new start for Malawi where justice shall prevail. The court ruling will just increase vengeance and disintegration of the country disregarding which side the court rules in favour.
Option two form a transition government to next election after a reconciliation process. The modernity can be agreed even if it means revisiting our constitution amendment and parliament approves only to save the country from further damage as Karim has put it.
MESSEGE TO VIEWERS/READERS/MALAWIANS
The current issue should not be looked at with political affiliation, or where you come from whether north centre south, which tribe you belong which party you support all these should be put a side but think as a Malawian where there is no lomwe chewa tumbuka ngoni nyachusa.etc or uyu ndi wakumpoto uyu wa pakati uyu wa kumwera.UYU NDI MALAWI TIZIMUYANGANA(A MALAWI TIYENI TIKHULUKILANE ZITIFIKITSA KUTI IZI. What a good Malawi I see if we forgive eah other and start a new Malawi where our children will laugh together eat together and enjoy together and love one another as ONE MALAWI ONE NATION.
AS AN EXPERT OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN AFRICA WELL TRAINED BY EXPERTS. MY HUMBLE REQUEST IS THAT LET US MAKE THIS FORUM FOR PEACE.LET US SPREAD PEACE MESSEGES IDEAS,
LET US AVOID HATE COMMENTS ABOUT ANY REGION TRIBE.LET US AVOID INGROUPGS AND OUTGROUP OR THEM AND US WE ARE ALL MALAWIANSGOD BLESS
FOLLOW MY COMMENTS MALAWI WILL CHANGE.
Too much theory bwana.
get real and practical.
A genuine journalist has no sides in his or her reporting. U r supposed to be non partisan in yr viewing of issues, balance yr reporting and thats what we call professionalism. I cant trust and believe yr report bcz u r taking sides. Its better to keep quiet bcz inuyo ndiamene mumabweretsa zoipa mdziko bcz yr reports are full of biases.
YOU ARE RIGHT ,INFACT ITS THE COURTS TO CALL FOR A RERUN.
NOT NECESSARILY THE SO CALLED PRESIDENT TO CALL FOR A RERUN.
APM IS NOT RECOGNISED BY MANY NOW UNTILL THE COURTS CASE IS CONCLUDED
AND THE
SO A RERUN IS IN THE HANDS OF THE COURT OUTCOME AND NOT IN THE HANDS OF THE DPP LEADER