MEC disqualifies independent candidate for Dowa South East but inaction for DPP’s aspirants
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has disqualified independent candidate for Dowa South East Medson Nkhoma for continuing holding a public office after presenting nomination papers but there is in action on ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidates in similar situation.
According to section 51(2)(e) of the Constitution of the Republic of no person shall be qualified to be nominated or elected as a of Parliament if that person holds, or acts, in any public or appointment, except where the Constitution provides that person shall not be disqualified from standing for election solely on of holding that office or appointment or where that person from that office in order to stand.
In a statement released on Tuesday, MEC Chief Elections Officer Sam Alufandika said the commission received a complaint that Nkhoma was still with the Road Traffic Directorate despite being a candidate had not resigned.
Upon getting confirmation from the Directorate, Alufandika said “the Commission has that Mr Nkhoma be disqualified as a parliamentary for Dowa South East and that his name has been struck the list of nominated candidates.”
However, Chief Financial Controller at the country’s main producer of power, Electricity Generation Company (Egenco), Shadreck Namalomba continues to hold a senior public job while he is contesting for a parliamentary seat on a governing DPP parliamentary ticket, contrary to public service regulations.
Namalomba is contesting in the Mangochi South West Constituency parliamentary seat while still working as Chief Financial Officer at Egenco, a public entity that was created after the delinking of ESCOM, the later being known for being the ruling party’s main cash cow.
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Grace wife of a once popular pilot in the Malawi iarmy s still working at MRA while contesting as an MP in Lilongwe
I know Namalomba he can’t be stupid go and ask his file at egenco u will find he has resigned under egenco TnC.
Gerald Viola is also holding a public office and yet is a parliamentary candidate on a DPP ticket – nothing has happened to him.
Perhaps all these NGO’S and revenant stakeholders have not officially complained to MEC.
We have all along been saying this MEC is good for nothing. Very useless.
‘A Criminal History of Mankind’ by Colin Wilson. Enjoy it. Vote on 21 Mag 2019.
MEC is part of DPP, look at MBC, DPP giving handouts, DPP kutukwana but no action!
And now they are saying that thugs broke into their Lilongwe A3 offices and tempered with their CCTV system but did not steal anything. MEC really! are you up to the job? Are you able to manage a free and fair elections with this type of unprofessional. I cant buy this dumy cheque. these people didn’t go there to steal computers but data and they know what they want to use it for. I fair for this elections, zambiri zikuchitika.
With all that has been happening, i personally can not trust MEC, their behaviour leaves a lot to be desired. This favouritism of a highest order.
This is where we fail to uphold democracy in Malawi. One of the reasons why we can’t even afford a decent lifestyle yet we call ourselves developing? Stupid little nation. Where are the Facebook political scientists and lawyers?? This is what you should take to task osati showing off pa Facebook. Malawians Olo angaphunzire chotani kupusa sikuchoka.
And we expect MEC to hold credible elections, my foot. MEC’s actions this far clearly shows which party it favours. Remember, actions speak louder than words.
Don’t accuse or politicised MEC’s decisions simply because lawyers for respective candidates or parties failed to properly advise their clients or they did but they chose to proceed. MEC headed by a supreme court judge is doing its job by using the existing laws and court judgements. MEC can be brought to disrepute and seen as abusing the court system if it is sued on similar cases already determined. If people feel Mr Namalomba at EGENCO is a public servant let them get an injunction stopping him from contesting.
@Muthalirenji,
It has not taken a court injustice to restrain and remove Nkhoma from the voters roll. The same justice can also be applied across the candidates.
The fact that MEC is headed by a supreme Court Judge such mediocrity should not have even been taking place or condone. She has failed to show her stance on not being biased.
The issue of security should be number one on the agenda. If she was as smart as YOU portray her to be, she could have even engaged the army to secure all MEC offices and equipment bearing in mind the security lapses at MEC.
My take on the matter is that she just sits behind a desk and is passive on how she conducts herself. I don’t see a proactive leader who wants to leave a long lasting legacy.
Using existing laws is what we are advocating. The laws are very clear and the so called supreme judge should be the last person to misinterpret them. The same applies to DPP headed by a guy who claims to be a constitutional law expert. A lawyer worth his salt would have advised Namalomba to resign first. Bearing in mind that the person concerned belongs to DPP, I am not surprised he is still holding his public job. DPP broke the record as the first ruling party that brought a bill to parliament to defeat it. While sane, progressive ruling parties/governments would be lobbying opposition to help it pass a bill, the clueless party was busy mobilizing its MPs to reject its own bill. EGENCO is a public institution, period.
Section 51(2) of the constitution is so clear. It does not require sophisticated legal minds to interpret it. The section says “No person shall be qualified to be nominated or elected as member of parliament who holds or acts in any public office or appointment, except where this constitution provides that a person shall not be disqualified from standing for election solely on account of holding that public office or appointment, or where that person resigns from that office in order to stand”.