Malawi Electoral Commission dismisses opposition block on resignation calls
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah and other senior officials will not step aside to allow a forensic audit of equipment and data in the electoral body’s custody as demanded by opposition parties bloc.
Among other senior officials the 10-party grouping wants suspended alongside Ansah are MEC chief elections officer Sam Alfandika and chairperson for electoral services committee Jean Mathanga.
But MEC in a statement made available to Nyasa Times dated Novemebr 7 2018, dismisses the demand by the grouping which comprises ADD, People’s Party (PP), People’s Progressive Movement (PPM), United Transformation Movement (UTM), Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde), People’s Transformation Party (Petra), Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Malawi Democratic Party (MDP), Republican Party (RP) and the New Labour Party (NLP).
Alfandika said the missing kit belong to the National Registration Bureau (NRB) a contradiction from an earlier position where the electoral body claimed ownership of the gadgets.
“It is therefore, retrogressive to hear repeated calls from some quarters for the resignation or stepping aside of the commission’s chairperson and management on a matter that was thoroughly discussed and resolved at Necof (National Elections Consultative Forum),” said Alfandika in the statement.
Besides the suspension of MEC top brass, the opposition parties were seeking the technical and material support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Department for International Development (DfID) and the European Union to carry out an independent forensic audit to be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge.
The opposition bloc’s chairperson, former vice-president and leader of the Assembly for Democracy and Development (ADD) Cassim Chilumpha, warned that “if nothing is done to address why and how the biometric voter registration kit [BVRK] equipment got stolen and part of it recovered in Mozambique, the elections next year will be a sham.”
Chilumpha said the integrity of MEC has been thrown in “serious doubt”.
He said:“ That is why we want to see the top MEC officials pave the way for independent investigations.”
The BVRK number 1962 is said to have been stolen in transit from Mzuzu in September and was recovered in Mozambique with some parts missing.
All these mentioned all from the South, why ? Do you think that the 2019 general election are going to be credible ? Think it over fellow Malawians.
In all civilized countries where democracy and the rule of law is practiced any person in a public office whose name is mentioned in an enquiry, steps aside while investigations are constituted. In Malawi this is unheard off. Those in office seem to put them selves above the law. There are numerous cases where officers were supposed to either step aside or resign but never did so. Examples :- Chaponda maize gate case He remained in office amid many voices calling for his resignation. It took along time with a lot of people voicing against his continued stay in office,… Read more »
Treat our national asset, Malawi Electoral Commission, with some dignity and respect, the Institution deserves, the country should come first than an individual, so step aside please!
WE ARE IN HELL FIRE (BURNING FURNACE ) IN OUR OWN MOTHER MALAWI ! WHY ? ? BECAUSE OF THE EDUCATED FOOLS IN
POSITIONS !!! ONLY GOD KNOWS HOW TO DEAL WITH YOU WICKED SATANISTS
Remember that you are not dealing with real people there. You are dealing with Zithumwa Zotumidwa. They care nothing for the country 2014 election drama is going to happen again. History will repeat itself
Just by looking at such faces,you just know that results are compromised,no credibility here
Go to court and force them to step aside not resign for the duration of the investigation.
Kukakamilaku bwanji abale? You are failing on your job and nkumakakamirabe. Hmmmmm pali biiiii pali minga. Crookedness to rig!
Only DPP supporters/cadets can trust this messed up MEC
To Alufandika and Mrs Ansah, Willie Kalonga was as pompous as you are but society faced him head-on!! What is special at MEC? Are you serious, as learned people you don’t see the need of paving way for thorough investigations? There is there is at MEC………………………………………………………..! UNDP and DfID please assist our nation to straighten the picture in people on the matter!!