MEC playdown claims linking Zambia officials to rig Malawi poll: Warns against manipulating materials
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has downplayed claims by opposition Tonse Alliance during the final campaign rally on Saturday that three top Zambian nationals have come in the country to allegedly rig the fresh presidential elections in favour of incumbent Peter Mutharika due on Tuesday.
UTM Party secretary general Patricia Kaliati made the claims in a televised rally in Blantye that former Minister of Finance, Dr. Katele Kalumba, former intelligence chief Xavier Chungu and former State House Special Assistant for Politics, Kaizer Zulu entered the country through Mzimba at Jenda border with Zambia.
She called on the Zambian High Commission in Malawi to ensure that three Zambians leave the country.
This was corroborated by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary Elsenhower Mkaka at another televised rally in Lilongwe.
MCP and UTM are in electoral alliance under the banner of Tonse.
When the matter was put to MEC chairperson Dr Chifundo Kachale at a news briefing in Blantyre on Sunday, he said “I will not be competent to comment on the allegations.”
He added: “If that information has been shared with the people who can take action, am sure appropriate actions will be taken.
“But it will be very ill advised for me to begin to comment on statement made on a campaign platform it will drag us nowhere.”
During the news briefing, Kachale, a judge of the High Court, reiterated that the commission will remain impartial and that people should desist from implicating the commission in unfounded allegations.
He said those who do so will be dealt with accordingly.
Manipulating Materials
Kachale also exonerated the electoral body from the polling procedure poster that is circulating on social media with a distorted message on how to choose a candidate.
“The Electoral Commission is a neutral body and does not take sides to the extent of guiding the public on whom to vote for. Therefore, the Commission strongly condemns all those involved in this malpractice,” said Kachale.
He urged all electoral stakeholders to refrain from dragging MEC into partisan politics by manipulating and distorting the voter information, education and communication materials it produces.
“The Commission is warning everyone found engaging in this malpractice, whether originating or sharing, will be dealt with appropriately under the Section 84 (8) (d) of the Electronic Transactions and Cyber Security Act, 2016,” said Justice Kachale.
Malawi goes to the polls on Tuesday in a historic presidential re-run after a court overturned last year’s elections and ordered a fresh vote.
Although there are three candidates, Tuesday’s election is practically a two-horse race between President Peter Mutharika and his main rival Lazarus Chakwera of MCP.
Peter Kuwani of the Mbakuwani Movement for Development (MMD), is the other candidate on the voting register.
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Iwe kachale why are you excluding DPP commissioners in your meetings?
You want him to include incompetent people? He is fighting for free and fair elections. Unlike mfiti Jane Ansah, Kachale has dignity
be careful with such propaganda,dont involve zambians in your problems,if you fail to beat the old man allow him to lead you.
Awo anthu a ku Zambia alekeni avote! Ndife anthu amodzi, ngakhale ku Lundazi, ku Zambia, aMalawi amavota masankho amu Zambia.
iweyo ukuwanena anzako kuti akulubwa lubwa iweyo chiukukuza ndichani amene akuvoteledwa ndi iweyo
paja was Cimunkhule wa Zim last year kudzaendera mkazace on a convoy base. i mean on our taxes. Dausi said it
There is no smoke without fire.
Asiyeni ndi odwala matenda a mutu womwe umachedwa mpwesa, Kaliati siuja adauza mtundu wa amalawi kuti Chair wa MEC Kachale ndi wa MCP, lero azitiuza kuti MEC is rigging votes. What does tonse take Malawians for ? Advise to MEC chair is of using its power to get all who make unnecessary allegations to court. If someone says palibe chomwe ndi kuopa then that particular person thinks is above anyone elso and the law itself.
No Malawian must trust this terrorist, tribalistic, regionalistic Mulhako regime. This alliance of DPP and UDF is made up of a bunch of crooks, thieves, liars, murderers, and all kinds of criminals that are headed by Peter Hitler Mutharika and Atupele Muluzi, dad’s boy. There is nowhere people who voted for Chakwera, Chilima, and other political parties who are in Tonse Alliance to vote for this murderer, Peter Hitler Mutharika. God has saved them from the jaws of a crocodile, and they can’t put their heads in there again. This is the end of a terrorist regime, and we won’t… Read more »
You hate people and hide behind that name. I would want to see your real you after the results are announced. Get a life boss such hatred mukaluza mumwa Nazi poison. Malawi is bigger than you
Very professional response from the MEC chair. Don’t be influenced by cheap political propaganda. Just stay focused on delivering a credible election
kkkkkkkk!!!! Mai Kaliati mwayamba kale kulubwalubwa bwanji?????????? 23rd June ndi mawatu!!!! zoti mukomoke ife tisanavote ayi – atibera syndrome apapa isakhalepo / chonde chonde a Malawi tiyeni tidzale mbeu ya Mtendere muno m’dziko lathu. Omwe aluze avomereze mwantendere komanso omwe awine asangalare mwamtendere – honestly speaking we need to move on as a country. Everyone must start working hard on his or her own otherwise development should start in our own homes and the chosen government should pickup from there. It should be known that HARD WORKING PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS LIVE A HAPPY LIFE WHILE LAZY PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS BLAME… Read more »