MCP witness amplifies testimony on irregularities in Malawi poll case

One of the key witnesses for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera told the Constitutional Court in Lilongwe on Tuesday that he has about 70 presiding officers who can testify that they were not party to changing of electoral results with correctional fluid Tippex by  the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC during the May 21 Tripartite Elections.

Chakwera (L) his third witness Lackson has finished testifying

Lackson said under re-examination with Chakwera’s lead lawyer Modecai Msisha that all changes made in the results sheets was aimed at favouring the specific candidate.

During the day, under cross-examination from Attorney General (AG) Kalekeni Kaphale, who is representing MEC in the presidential election petition case, attempted to block Lackson from exposing MEC electoral irregularities.

But the five judge panel comprising Healey Potani, Ivy Kamanga, Dingiswayo Madise, Mike Tembo and Redson Kapindu presiding over the case, ruled out Kaphale for trying to object Lackson from explaining irregularities and referring to the procedure manual.

Kaphale claimed Lackson was manufacturing new evidence but the judges said the witness was denied a chance to explain those areas during cross examination, saying he needed to clarify during re-examination.

At first there was drama as Lackson entered the witness box and opened his laptop which he switched on and connected it to the projector.

Kaphale stood up to question why the witness was using the laptop.

“My Lady My Lords am surprised, why the witness is allowed to bring a gadget (Laptop) into the witness box?” queried Kaphale.

But lawyer Msiska said the court had already allowed Lackson to amplify his testimony by using gadgets in the presentation of their evidence in court.

But during the entire re examination Lackson insisted and demonstrated how MEC was subtracting figures from Chakwera and adding to another presidential candidate. He insinuated that the beneficiary was the first respondent, President Peter Mutharika, but did not mention him.

He said: “…An error does not have to show the pattern. It is supposed to be random… I am saying that these figures were not correct because data on result sheets were not transfered from the log books…”

Chakwera’s lead counsel Msisha concluded re-examination process with Lackson and next to enter the witness box is Anthony Bendulo an IT expert.

In the case, UTM Party president Saulos Chilima and Chakwera, as first and second petitioner, respectively, are seeking disqualification of the May 21 presidential election results, citing irregularities by the electoral body in administering the poll.

The Registrar of Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal and the High Court of Malawi Agnes Patemba announced earlier that the hearing of the case will be concluded by December 6 and that judgement will take place within 45 days from the date of conclusion.

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President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
4 years ago

Wina angw’emba

wena mzimba
wena mzimba
4 years ago

i can see no re run but chakwera to take over

Kaitano
Kaitano
4 years ago
Reply to  wena mzimba

Sounds possible though

Mbonga Matoga
Mbonga Matoga
4 years ago

My message to all cadets is that if your adadi has now started talking about dialogue just know that he knows that there is no way DPP and MEC can win this case….the evident is so overwhelming…..

Nyondo
4 years ago

In Kenya hearing and judgement took only two weeks. Malawi hearing six months and judgment 45days wow

Thyolo Thava Boy
4 years ago

DPP ulendo wakwanatu basi…Its time for Malawi to be cleaned of nepotism, corruption, maladministration, land grabbing by cadets, abuse of govt and state owned companie`s assets.

joseph
joseph
4 years ago

The case is interesting and it should serve as a lesson to Electoral Management Bodies(EMBs)) in Africa. I am also intending to do PhD in Politics and my supervisor is an expert in electoral matters in UK.I ask those at chancellor College in political science that the new area of research is about electoral management and integrity of elections. However, what is important is to KEEP PEACE FOR THE NATION despite all this.

Muthalirenji
Muthalirenji
4 years ago

AMalawi kutengeka ndi nkhani za zii.
G Who has ruled that the method used by this guy is right and the one used by Kaphale was wrong. If the tallying method used by Lackson is the only correct one how come the first petitioner did not not Kaphale’s error? My DPP friends don’t worry about this, its not a game changer and even if it has changed the game we will beat these guys again. Azalilanso kuti kuti atibera.

Nameless
Nameless
4 years ago
Reply to  Muthalirenji

Even if you can ask ur Big dog Muthalika, right now, he tell that u better shut up! Re-run is not good news for you guys, blv me. Don’t think that ur tricks will work again. Hell no! Not this time bro…! Just shut up, ask urself why Muthalika is trying to to keep this so called AG kaphare keep ask same questions..!? Is just to buy time so that he can only rule this country at least one year bro. Like I said leave this issue.

chataika
chataika
4 years ago
Reply to  Nameless

tiripo ife bwanawe wathu APM basi come rerun wil vote for him come rain or sunshine

Charie
Charie
4 years ago
Reply to  chataika

Yanga ndi DPP basi chifukwa 0.5 %ya re run mzosatheka

Elisha
Elisha
4 years ago
Reply to  Muthalirenji

Mmmmmmmm u kurila ndiwe ada agogo ako akubawe

Kaitano
Kaitano
4 years ago

An error does not have to show the pattern, said Lackson. I can read and read and read and read. He insisted and demonstrated how Malawi Electoral Commission led by a woman by the name Jane Ansah who is a judge at the Supreme Court of Malawi how they were subtracting figures from Dr Lazarus Chakwera and adding to another presidential candidate. Underline the word SUBTRACTING boy.

God bless Malawi.

noxy
noxy
4 years ago

game yakula iyi

Nabanda
4 years ago

Let “God” be “God!”

Kaitano
Kaitano
4 years ago
Reply to  Nabanda

Amen!

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