Malawi fresh elections might be shifted because of Coronavirus
As the country gears up itself against the deadly Coronavirus outbreak, debate has started on possibility of postponing the July 2 Fresh Presidential Elections as a preventative measure with electoral stakeholders raising the issue during a National Elections Consultative Forum (NECOF) on Friday in Mangochi.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) organised the meeting held in Mangochi to brief electoral stakeholders on the state of preparedness for elections.
Taking his turn during the meeting, Reverend Mwayi Kamuyambeni representing the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said the country needed to reflect soberly on whether to continue with preparations or wait until the global lock downs are over.
The members also suggested to the electoral body to go to the court and seek an extension to the 150 days order so as to allow for MEC to hold the polls at a later date when the virus threat is contained.
In her response MEC chairperson, Justice Jane Ansah said her organization would not go to the court again because it went there twice but has not been successful.
“It is up to the citizens here also to take action to go to the court and seek relief that with the current threat the Commission may not hold an elections that adheres to all the provisions of the law should cases be reported. As for the MEC we can’t go again because we have been unsuccessful,” she said.
A few weeks ago after the ruling of the Constitutional Court, the MEC had appealed for stay order of the judgement pending appeal.
MEC also argued that the elections could not be held within 150 if the law would be followed to the letter and wanted to do the elections in October.
Ansah conceded that should the country lockdown, the elections would be affected because most of the materials and equipment are bought from abroad.
“We buy almost everything from outside the country. There are companies that supply us locally for example pens but you will find that they also buy them from outside.
“We can also not print ballot papers locally, because we don’t have a security printer. If it comes to such a situation whereby, we cannot get anything from outside the country we will have no option but succumb and postpone the polls,” she said.
Another delegate wondered why the Malawi Electoral Commission was going ahead with the elections when government had banned gatherings of more than 100 people wondering how the political parties would conduct campaign.
In her remarks, MEC chairperson said the proposal for postponement was for all stakeholders to reflect on and make their positions known even through the media.
She had earlier on suggested that members break into groups and come up with a resolution on whether to postpone the elections or not.
However, members felt they needed more time to consult their principals and constituents.
The stakeholders said they need to consult health experts.
“We are not health experts. We can’t tell if this virus has an implication worth suspension of the election or not. We will give our position after we make consultation,” said Kandi Padambo, the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) chairperson.
In his contribution, Senior Chief Lukwa of Kasungu advised the Commission to have a contingency electoral calendar apart from the current which might be followed in case of the Coronavirus hits the country.
In her speech at the NECOF meeting, Ansah said the Commission was taking measures to ensure that all electoral staff and people who come for registration are protected from catching the virus.
“The Coronavirus has affected a lot of activities, and elections are not an exemption. The MEC will undertake to ensure the safety of its staff, both at headquarters and in the field, during the implementation of the electoral process.
“There will be masks, gloves, water and hand sanitisers for use in all places. And there will be strict observance of distances between individuals as well as gatherings of less than 100 people during meeting,” she said.
The MEC chairperson urged all electoral stakeholders, including political parties, to join hands with the Commission in observing and applying the same measures in all their undertakings as directed by the State President.
If the fresh presidential elections will be postponed, it will be a second time in recent history that polls have been postponed after launch.
MEC recently postponed by-elections in Lilongwe South Constituency few days to polling because of violence.
In 2010 the Commission also postponed Local Government Elections after government expressed that it had no funding as the country was facing hunger and the money had to be used to buy relief maize.
A jane ansah muzimva. Muli ndi ana akulu akulu. Osamapanga zopusa. Mwakula kale, osatipasa matsoka. Tisiyileni dziko lathu. Inu mwakula basi. Tikumvana?
The first Corona is Jane…so shifting is because we don’t want her
These are Tactics planned by APM and his girl friend Jane Ansah in an attempt to cling to power. Corona Virus is just a Shrub they are trying to hide in until their mission is accomplished.
Chouluka chilichonse chimatera pansi. Ulukani mmene mungaulukiremo , u will one day reach the end of the road.
The Malawi Constitution is very clear that a state president must be elected by the 50 + 1 majority.Fresh presidential elections must proceed with or without Coronavirus so that this Lomwe elected president Peter Muthalika with only 35% of votes must go instead a president to be elected by the majority(65%) must come in.
I have not seen anywhere where 50+1 is written.
No elections because so far the opposition has failed to change the constitution. ConCourt ruling was wrong and unconstitutional and consequently under panic, Gotani has run to the corrupt courts just because she can’t pass illegal and unconstitutional bills in parliament.
Malawians should not permit this unelected President whose election was nullified by the Supreme Court. It is time for a government of national unity to oversee the fight against Covid-19 and then to organise a rigging free and fair election.
Mutharika has a criminal indictment waiting for trying to conceal the death of Bingu and attempting to subvert the Constitution by doing so. Let him beware and behave fairly otherwise he shall leave State House in handcuffs and leg irons.
The constitution does not provide for that. Mutharika is the president. The opposition has failed to change the constitution so accept that Concourt judgement was WRONG and unconstitutional.
This whole issue has come down to one crucial thing: the constitution. For us to have fresh presidential elections there is need to change the constitution and that requires two-thirds majority which the opposition does not have. Now, either our judges were naïve, corrupt, incompetent OR all of these, for them to have thought they could annul last years presidential poll results and then force parliament to change the constitution to suit their ruling. The constitution is designed NOT to allow changes driven by short-term interests. It’s a lesson to our judges and people who are ignorant about the constitution.
Concourt and Opposition are in trouble due to this dangerous corona virus. The Concourt gave Malawian a foolish judgement, Concourt can not order the Congress to pass the bill,but it only can recommand the bill, not order, otherwise the court interfere in Congress’ matter. It also causes the court dealing the case politically.The Constitution does not grant the court such mandate to order Congress to deal the bill. It is aslo indentified the court as the violation of the Constitution.
mBwiyanga ndie mutozikolatu if Something is Annulled it is Annulled.Whether the Constitution is amended or not amended it is Annulled .As for Chimfine Cha Covid( this one is a supposedly an alliance of virus found in Bats and pangolins) – It might be here for Ever – Chimfine sichitha chimangosintha – It’s a Virus ….Now if it Comes in another form Next Year ( it forms another alliance)….Basi tizingoti Postpone …Postpone mpaka kalekale ….Short term interests is when Someone thinks Tribalism will keep them in Power for Ever …as a President of a Whole Country ….
There is a good reason why presidential elections are not annulled anyhow especially in countries where the constitution does not provide a framework for another election. First, Concourt used flimsy reasons to annul the presidential poll and to show that the courts did not have valid reason that there were irregularities, they have refused to annul parliamentary and local poll results. This alone presents constitutional problems because how do you align the next presidential and parliamentary as well as local polls? Second, people can say, annulment is an annulment – but what mechanism does ConCourt or Supreme Court have for fresh elections. NONE. Because the constitution does not provide for that. Third, Speaker Gotani and the opposition failed to get 2/3 majority to change the constitution. This should ring some bells in the opposition and the corrupt and incompetent judges. I call them incompetent and corrupt because courts should not make rulings that depend on political processes which THEY cannot control.
Even yourself @ Banda you’re trying to explain to others things you don’t understand; 1- concourt refused annull the parliamentary results as a whole not that they were legit, everybody knows all figures were cooked up by Ansah, the problem is that nobody went to courts and lodge a complain within 8 days as stipulated in the very useless constitution you and muntharika are hiding behind. 2- If you think the constitution is that perfect why do many countries amend it every now and then? 3- Do you honestly think the way malawian MPs are money hungry, can they choose to amend the constitution than pocket money for themselves? Look at Kamlepo, he was one of the first mps before the elections took place to help shoot down the bills, today he’s a minister, what does that say to you?
4-Courts did not force parliament to change the constitution but gave them directions because many of our mps are savages and money hungry, as well as bringing sanity to the office of the president because minority leadership is unsustainable, we need a president/ leadership whose support is broad based. 5- You can’t wholly hide behind “the constitution didn’t say this or that” because there are alot of things that the constitution did not say thus it needs to be amended every now and then. A constitution is a moving document that needs to change with time, needs, circumstance, etc. Why then should we wait for the courts to give directives? Because malawi practice politics of ownership, politics of poverty, politics of self service, politics of praise, scratch my back i will scratch yours and so on, so don’ t blame the courts blame our stupid politicians. This train is moving forward whether one like it or not and if dpp and Muntharika continue to surpress the will of the majority on the ground not in parliament, there will be chaos that everyone will be a loser, and that’s what the courts are trying to avert.
I am not sure that a president elected through alliances is a president of majority in reality. If you disband the alliance people will vote for their party president and none of the current candidates is assured of 50+1 alone. Our argument should just be ‘we want a change in the presidency’ come what may.That would be honesty.
Then why are giving pressure to have the bill passed, if the judgement was in accordance to laws of Malawi? The ruthless truth-telling fact is that GOD, the Wholly One of Israel is fighting for the battles of our dear Peter, the State President of Republic of Malawi. Mulimbana naye mpaka 2023 osaphula kanthu. Saliyekha Peter. zikomo.
@ Nsanje, you and many malawians in your league only know how to make noise but don’t know what that noise is all about. To have fresh elections don’t need a change of the constitution, the elections will go ahead but will be based on old laws if the new bills can not pass as laws. Once the elections are annulled are annulled unless the higher court judges otherwise. The only issue that dpp and Muntharika can block are the bills that were supposed to be passed as laws to go along with the fresh elections such as 50+1 majority vote. Either way dpp and udf can not win any legit elections even if they can be based on old laws.
Please postpone thiese elections because God does not want us to go for elections again no!!!! that’s why Corona virus has come – in-fact we should first turn to God and repent all the SINS we have done during the EVIL demos. most people have been wounded, property stolen and demolished, lives lost and God is very furious. Secondly, with this Covid 19 sweeping across the world it means something somewhere things are NOT ok – there is someone who is causing this calamity – Remember in the bible when Jonah was sent to preach the word of God in Nineveh??? Him Jonah preffered to ran away from his mission and boarded a ship going to Tarsus and you know what happened on the Sea!!!!! anthu amene anali muchombocho anabutika komanso katundu wa anthu anaonongeka just because of one person Jonah – he was ranning away from doing the work which God gave him. Today we have another Jonah he has choosen to do politics instead of preaching the word of God and God is looking for him once he is back all these perils will automatically go. Please Jonah where ever you are God is looking for you anthu asafe chifukwa cha iwe – ukudziwa kuti ndiwe mtumiki wa Mulungu koma wasankha kuchita za dziko Mulungu wakwiya zedi chonde bwerera ku nyumba ya Mulungu.
DPP thugs do not need a fresh election. That is why Peter declared the State Disaster. Their aim is postponing the election, even overthrows the Concourt Judgement. After some weeks, we will see the State Emergency declared by Peter. Meanwhile, the constitution will be suspended, nobody can touch Peter because the constitution gives Peter such power. That is why Trump can use the money without Congress’ approval in USA bcz he declared that State Emergency due to the border crisis alone the Mexico and USA.
Let’s be honest, the election is not going to happen because ConCourt ruling was flawed – it ignored crucial constitutional provisions and as such parliamentary bills have run into deep trouble – that is why Speaker Gotani is running to the courts again because she knows there is no two-thirds majority to change the constitution. The corona-virus, therefore presents the Supreme Court with an opportunity to just CANCEL ConCourt ruling and the elections. The court’s reputation is at stake just because ConCourt ruling depended on the passing of bills, a process no court can control because it requires debating and voting.
The presidential elections should be cancelled immediately.
When MEC asked for a stay, Concourt and Supreme court rudely refused to grant it. There was no rationality in Concourt and Supreme Court rulings. We can now see how our courts are full of dunderheads.
THe election is useless becuase corrupt judges did not understand constitutional provisions. Corona-virus has just added another dimension to the foolishness of our courts.
Remember clueless Mutharika is running the country ONLY because of the court-ordered 150-day mandate and should clueless Mutharika allow that to expire there is no guarantee the court will RENEW the order but most likely give an order for a unity government that will again be required to implement its orders and that government could well exclude clueless Mutharika because he did not use the court-ordered mandate he was given to carry out the courts orders and the court will make sure in this new order the powers are temporary, restricting some actions!!!
Any constitutional change will require 2/3 majority in parliament. Don’t forgeg that. If your corrupt judges think they can just impose a president of their choosing, they afre calling for bloodshed.
full of old whores and bastards commission. zimenezo muzimuuza pitala bemberezi wanu emweyo.
ifetu mmitu mwathu mulibe commisioners yomwe ili pa mipando. musatikakamile
Game yakuopsanitu, mwayamba kunamizira Corona virus! Shaaaa, tiyeni tikavote apa
There’s no kubisalira ku coronavirus agogo. Votes should and must go on. NTCHONA must go.
The supporters of dpp are evil and useless, they can use any circumstance to justify themselves. The pandemic of corona is like unforeseen natural disaster of which no judgement should be blamed based on that. Parliament failed to pass bills not because were wrong or meant to fail, it’s because the so called overseers of the constitution are using the same to guard partisan politics and self interests. The constitution itself is flawed and stupid, how can the overseer of the republic’s constitution be a president who was chosen by his partisan political party? Do you expect the partisan president to oversee the constitution that stand for the best interest of every citizen? Absolutely not, may be it’s time the president should be chosen directly by people not his political party or we should have an arm of parliament that comprised of all political parties in parliament to oversee the constitution. So elections should be postponed not because the judgements have been biased or wrong but because coronavirus is a risk to everyone including those who are using this as their blessing in disguise. It’s an open secret that dpp stole the elections and our courts are also weaker and that’s why dpp is taking advantage because you don’t reward a thief with what he was caught trying to steal, the courts should have stripped Peter of his presidential powers even if it meant to create a vaccum but that could have been a lesson for would-be thieves and dpp would not be making noise as they are doing.
Anyapapi, chisankho chichitika olo munene ziti. It will only be shifted and not cancelled. Postponed and to be advised later. APM mandate will still expire and courts will advise accordingly. Tukwanani ma court wo tikuonelani
covid 19 ili apo, tisakhuzane ndi ma fresh election
.
zizacitka basi.
yes kuli kose ncito zina ndi zina zaimadi koma sikuti sizizayambilaso.
pls stop brainwashing us.mxiiiii
Last time I checked in the shops they had ran out of Baby Soft Toilet paper. When I checked with the shop managers, I was told MEC Chair AND State House had bought all stock.
Achewa ndi zisiru kwambiri. Apa mukulepheratu ku yankhula mungotukwana.
Usiru wake umenewo ndani angakusiireni usogoleri.
Achewa ana anu onse athimbilira ndi fodya kuyesera kuti mwina apanga cha nzeru koma ata uchitsilu oyamwira.
Coronavirus is a blessing in disguise, the elections will have to be postponed and let us make sure that the new election date should be after the entire current MEC has retired.
I believe the term of the current MEC commissioners will expire in October this year so let us postpone the May elections to November just before the rain season starts. This is nature’s way of dealing with the commissioners arrogance and refusal to resign.
We cannot allow Mai Jezebel Ansah to lead any election ever again in our Country that is being reckless. She cheated Malawians that she will resign only if the concourt find MEC in the wrong doing but after the concourt ruling what did she do…..she is wasting more taxpayers money K600 million to be precise hiring foreign lawyers to protect her backside and that of her old boy friend APM.
Dzanja lalemba God can not allow this evil woman to manipulate our elections again with or without coronavirus, period.
Nanga akubawa awachita bwanji!!! Ingoti pheeee muoneee. Inu nokha simungakhale akuba inu nomwe judges.
When the concourt delivered its judgment it looked as if the opposition has won the case. Now we know the concourt just confused everyone
not every one but u
Gwalidi, pa anthu onse alankhula pamwambawo walankhula za nzeru ndiiweyo basi, the rest ndi nyangwita basi, zofunika kuzipangira pillow or chikolopa. The blessing in disguise is on the part of the current govt., inu mmati mwachenjera. Covid-19 itenga nthawi kuti ithe and it will have a very big implication on the elections not only in Malawi but across the globe. Ndiye a opposition padziko lonse lapansi abadikira kaye, zafisi, chikagwa nditola!
That’s correct. The judges have destroyed our country.
DPP tried to bribe judges in order to rule in their favor God refused. Now God has brought pestilences in the name of corona virus thieves are criticizing judges and parliament again. I swear dpp must prepare to meet UTM/MCP Alliance. We can not be forced to have illegal president no no no no we will not allow that. With or without we will go on the ballot and kick out bloody thieves.
The judges erred because their ruling depended on making laws. You should know that making laws is a process that requires debate and voting. No court can control that.
The concourt judges are inept and likely corrupt. There was no basis for nullification of the election because clearly tippex didn’t affect the results. The judge brought about issues of 50+1, competence of mec commissioners etc just to hide their unconstitutional ruling. If our MPs were wise they would start parliamentary inquiry on election case. Legal affairs committee should summon the crooked judges and admonish them.
Its just unfortunate that the world is on lockdown, fresh elections is a must, we cant be having these idiots. Soon just after con court ruled to have fresh elections these idiots started punishing us with load shedding and it was nothing to do with pandemic. We have never experienced this nonses during this period for the past 5 years. If you are benefiting something from dpp just keep quiet . This is God’s punishment and its the whole world affected not only Malawi and this not because concourt ruled to have fresh elections
cleocin cost
this is indeed useless elections they must be cancelled until 2024 , and I said it before that God fights for his people and these devils will come to their senses and accept the defeat otherwise all their plans are at crossroads.
Pharaoh anaphuphaphupha but still at the end the Israelites became free. DPP and MEC can’t play with God. They are fighting a losing battle. Dzanja linalemba. Whether it’s this year or next year we will still vote in multitudes to kick evil and corruption out of Malawi. God is on our side.
Coronavirus will strike down every corrupt DPP and MEC officials. Mwazunza ana a Mulungu kokwana. Mufunse Pharaoh.
Opposition parties, when one tries to do something and every time it fails, you know that it is not right. Accept that the so-called election was imposed through an evil plan that involved bribing judges who because they were not honest have created a bigger and complex problem. Concourt judgement has failed to meet the democratic test – parliament failed to change the constitution. Now, nature in form of corona-virus is intervening and telling you something: (MCP & Chakwera, UTM & Chilima, HRDC & Nsundwe Boys, Concourt & Supreme court judges) abandon your evil plans.
You Mean that Evil Woman and Her Boyfriend….That have done everything in their power to SABOTAGE the Will of the Majority ….Even Corona will Not Stop Change ….Don’t you think Nature is Trying to Expose the Rot that is Our health system …Nature is Trying to tell you not to Plunder our Taxes but rather put them to Good Use – beds ,ventilators ,because there Might be No Chance to Fly Abroad for Treatment …African Leaders that is What Corona is telling You….
I like your arguement Nalingula, very much so; we will suffer together right here in malawi, no politician, or their sons and daughters will fly to South Africa, India, or China for treatment, they will definately given the taste of their own medicine. God always got his way of punishing the evil, because of their foolishness they look at the lightening and smile then it strikes them to death, this is it for foolish mec, dpp and its supporters. They foolishly think this is a punishment for the opposition, hell no.
There are no any evil plans here, that I see, opposition is only fighting for objectivity and advancing true democracy no mediocre leadership. In fact who is evil here, someone with a heart to build the nation or someone clinging to power yet failing to do any meaningful development.
Auzeni awowo avomereze zawalaka, alephera kutukula dziko. Apatse mpata Chakwera wa MCP and Chilima wa UTM, alongosole zinthu izi. Kodi Malawi tikhala tikuganizabe mobwerera mpaka litiro. What’s good about the current state of affairs! When the nation is slipping off.
And mind you corona virus did not come from malawi, we all know it emanated from China and what’s that have to do with the opposition parties in Malawi. In fact no any cases have been recorded in Malawi so far. Let’s not harbour unnecessary grudges.
Don’t be silly. The impact of corona is felt in Malawi.
How many times did MEC ask our courts to put a stay on Concourt ruling. Ma judge aja amaziona ngati ochenjera tione kuti nzeru zao ndizochepera tsopano.
Nzeru Zochepera ndi za Atsogoleri Omwe akhala akuba Ndalama Zathu akadwala Namapita Kunja ….I hope with the lockdowns there will be No Exceptions….If some African Leaders Get Sick and Try to Fly Abroad….Deny them entry ….Let them Invest the Billions they have been Stealing in Good Health Care Systems in their own Countries….. Change Atobwera don’t Worry….
The pointless elections should be cancelled.
Guess who is going to be humiliated? Biased Concourt and Supremet court judges who were rigid and adamant when MEC asked them for a ‘stay on Concourt ruling’. The judges exposed their bias by cynically saying there was no need for a stay because money for the elections was not anyone’s but tax-payers. Now, we are all here to see how stupid our judges have been.
This comment does not make sense. Did you know that there will be Corona, what if it goes soon. Check meaning of IF.
Even if it did, Speaker Gotani can’t pass those bills that is why she has gone to court again.
MEC can’t go back to court because both the rude and corrupt ConCourt & Supreme Court judges were foolish enough not have any rational thinking when MEC asked them to put a stay on the 3rd February ruling. The courts have themselves to blame for working for the opposition and not being realistic. Just preparing for elections takes huge sums of money which in a poor country like ours should have been used for more important things.
As rich countries marshal their efforts towards fighting corona-virus and whilst their economies slide into recession, they do not have the resources and time to fund our elections which are a self-inflicted mistake created by a handful of corrupt judges.
Stupid idiots u have got only 150 days no more
Malawi can’t have elections any time soon. The meetings MEC is holding need to stop because it is putting people at risk. The whol Prime Minister of Britain is ill with corona-virus as we speak.
Yes prime minister has coronavirus, so what? Work continues.
The best the Supreme Court can do is overturn ConCourt ruling because of two reasons. First, the assumptions that Concourt made have been proven wrong because parliament cannon be forced to pass bills to anchor their judgement. We have all seen the constitutional implications of judges being misguided by giving a ruling that depends on political processes. Second and as a consequent of the flawed judgement, there are more constitutional problems that will arise if Concourt judgement is not overturned or quashed especially in the face of corona-virus which has practically shut-down the world. Our courts and judges need to swallow their bride and ignore all the bribes they have received by restoring sanity. Corona-virus is giving them that opportunity because it will actually be the courts that will be humiliated when politics completely makes their ruling/s blunt.
Those who had evil plans of destabilising our country should think at how every of their evil plan is not working. That should make them reflect and realise that elections are not necessary.
With corona-virus, elections cannot be held this year because the whole world is on some kind of lockdown – borders are closed, it’s impossible to get any visa, major and small airlines have cancelled flights and production has stopped in major companies around the world.
Some sense is coming into people’s heads. We actually do not need this useless election which about egoistic people wanting power.