MCP’s dramatic U-turn: Contempt case dropped, but legal fight over MEC not over yet

The Malawi Congress Party has performed a dramatic climbdown, pulling the plug on a bombshell contempt of court case against two of the government’s most senior figures — just days before the matter was due to explode in the High Court.

MCP and three of its legislators had been gearing up to face off against Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi and Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Chimwemwe Chipungu, in a case accusing the pair of deliberately dragging their feet over rental payments.

The row centred on claims Saidi and Chipungu had neglected to facilitate payment for a warehouse at Njewa and premises at Capital Development Limited in Lilongwe — both being rented by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

The showdown had been set for August 17, but a notice dated August 14, filed by lawyer George Kadzipatize before High Court Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda, confirms the case has now been dramatically withdrawn.

But while the contempt case has been scrapped, Kadzipatize was quick to insist the battle is far from over — revealing the injunction blocking MEC’s controversial relocation to Blantyre remains firmly in place.

“I can confirm that I received instructions from the Party to withdraw the contempt of court proceedings against the Secretary to the President and the Minister. I have accordingly filed the notice of withdrawal in the High Court and have already served it on the Attorney General,” Kadzipatike said.

He then issued a pointed warning to government, effectively daring officials to defy the court order at their peril.

“However, the injunction restraining relocation of MEC to Blantyre remains in force. We think it is all up to Government to act in compliance with the injunction or not; they have a capable Attorney General who will guide them on this matter,” he said.

Attorney General Frank Mbeta, for his part, insisted the state had been more than ready to fight the case head-on.

“I have not yet seen the notice of withdrawal. Otherwise, we were ready with our defence,” Mbeta said.

The sudden withdrawal now raises fresh questions over what prompted MCP’s abrupt about-turn — and whether the simmering row over MEC’s future home is about to flare up again.