MCP renews ‘stolen presidency’ claims: Mutharika ruling Malawi through stolen votes

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has renewed its stand that President Peter Mutharika was ruling through a stolen votes, saying the 2014 Tripartite Elections report released by Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) which describes the polls as  “neither fair nor credible “ vindicates the party’s stand.

MCP has always claimed Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) were elected on “fabricated results”.

Party spokeswoman Jessie Kabwila said MCP legitimately won the elections but DPP stole their victory, sayinf CSO’s report proved their claims that the election was rigged to be true.

Kabwila said the report has highlited that the elections “ credibility is in question.”

The MCP spokeswoman again questioned the legitimacy of the DPP government of “thieving” power.

Kabwila added that the report is going to help the party to put mechanisms to thwart its opponents from further rigging the next elections.

She said the party is putting together strategies to thwart another thieving mechanism of DPP to hold on to power.

Recently CSO released a 2014 Tripartite Election report entitled: “Election Situation Room: Analysis of the 2014 Tripartite Elections in Malawi” which describes the election as “Neither Fair nor Credible” and among other things calling for reforms in the country’s electoral processes and systems including enhancing the independence and technical capacity of the Malawi Election Commission (MEC) –

MCP publicist insisted: “It will still be on record that May 20 2014 elections were fraudulent.”

Dowa East Member of Parliament (MP) Richard Banda has said there is need for Parliament to pass laws aimed at bringing sanity in the way elections are conducted in the country.

Malawi uses the first-past-the-post system where the candidate with the largest share of votes is declared winner of the presidential race.

“What happened in the just ended elections is a shame and puts a dent on our democratic course. As legislators, we are tasked to regulate the way certain crucial things must be done in the country,” he said.

He also took a swipe at the country’s Judiciary, noting it did not conduct itself in the right manner regarding the May 20 Tripartite Elections.

“The Judiciary should realise that issues of national interest like elections need to be handled with seriousness and maturity. Our learned friends should not regulate the wrong; otherwise, we are doomed for a hard fall,” Banda said.

The outcome of the presidential results was mired in controversy amid allegations of rigging and confusion over how the MEC should have proceeded in the wake of conflicting court rulings on vote counting.

The results of the vote were announced on 30 May, minutes after the High Court refused a last-ditch attempt to block their release and allow time for a recount.