MEC rejects Ras Chikomeni papers to run for Malawi presidency: Given 2 days to act on anomalies
Independent presidential hopeful Ras Chikomeni Kadelere Chirwa presented his nomination papers to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on Wednesday aftermoon in preparation for the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections but his papers have been refused because he did or pay K2million nomination fee. He also didn’t get enough signatures for his nomination.
In his speech after rejecting the nomination papers, MEC chairperson Jane Ansah at Comesa Hall in Blantyre, she said Ras Chikomeni has been given two days to act on the anomalies and present the papers again.
“Having scrutinised your papaers, we find that there are two conditions that have not been fulfilled. You have not made the K2 million [nomination fee] payment,” said Ansah.
Ansah, a judge at the Supreme Court of Appeal, cited Section 45 subsection 1 of the Elections Acts said the candidate should deposit the nomination fees with the returning officer at the time of presenting the papers.
“At the time you submitted your papers you have not paid your nomination fees,” she said.
His supporters chanted tisonkhe! tisonkhe! (Let us contribute).
MEC chairperson also said “there are not enough nominators for 19 districts” as supporters shouted tisaine! (let us sign).
Ansah explained that there should be a minimum of 10 signatures in each districts of the country.
“For that reason, we cannot accept your papers. Should you meet these conditions in the next two days we will receive them,” Ansah said.
In his remarks, Chief Elections Officer, Sam Alfandika said: “We are returning the nomination papers so that we give him time to fulfil the requirements.”
Speaking live on Times TV, Chikomeni said: “It’s sad that we are buying democracy.”
Commenting on his running mate, his mother Niness Kayengo, Chikomeni said he picked her because she has been his adviser all his life said he wanted to achieve a balance in bringing women leadership and experience, saying she is a retired public servant “but not tired.”
The winning presidential candidate and running mate eventually become the country’s President and Vice-President, respectively.
Fact File:
The Mzuzu-based farmer and musician was born on October 1 1977 to Overton Hoho Chirwa and Nines Kayengi.
He was named Chikomeni by his grandfather who died days before he was born. His family believed that he was bewitched.
His mother is from Katowo Village Traditional Authority (T/A) Mwenemisuku in Chitipa while his father comes from Ehesheni Village T/A Chikuola Jere in mzimba.
Both parents were civil servants as his mother was a primary school teacher while his father was an agriculture officer.
He also believes that one plant of Industrial Hemp can emply 10 million people and he will legalise cultivation of the hemp.
Chikomeni revealed that he once owned six hectares of industrial hemp, but police arrested him for growing crop.
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Please before publishing your news refer to the spellings on how some words are pronounced like Chikuola instead of Mzikubola and Ehesheni instead of Ehehleni
My fellow Malawians, where ever you are, sometimes we need to be serious with what we think is someone’s right to do things,, especially when it comes to things of the Country,, every one has a dream, some dreams are not acceptable because the dreamer is not dreaming a good dream. What Mr Chikomeni has done to Malawi is very embarrassing thing which I never thought, this has proved how weak our Country is, this has proved how our beautiful Mothers can be taken like, this has proved how weak the leadership in our Country is,. Every person is under… Read more »
Kkkkk democracy at its best there is a differance between wisdom and intelligence we should start looking politics in another Angle every Malawian has the wright to contest please remove the obstacles
At times we have to protect our true democracy but,Chikomeni’s so-called Party has confused me and so many Malawians in diasporra.Candidly speaking,Chikomeni is not leading a Party but,a gangsterism organization with no real ideologies that would inspire the overwhelming majority of our people.This Party is suitable in Jamaica where it would involve itself in CHAMBA and other types of cannibis and candidlly speaking, not suitable for our gentle Malawi.Look the way the leader of the Party is looking,what would the outside people think of us all? Personally,I vehementlly agree with MEC for its judgement to reject the RASTA PARTY that… Read more »
winston – I just came across Mr. Chimomeni online so I am gathering info. However, I must reply to your above statements. I guess you jest if you are flabbergasted he should run for leader of the colonial territory called Malawi as all its other leaders, Banda, et al., have been dismal failures and have done nothing good for the majority of Malawians. Whilst these leaders enriched themselves Malawians became poorer. Don’t worry, these leaders you have had until now have already destroyed the respect of your “country.” Apparently you have not heard of the former New Zealand Member of… Read more »
By the way, the entire continent of Africa is still made up of colonial territories. Why are these borders still in place but for no other reason than for the exploitation of the continent by its former and present colonial masters? The AU is an utterly useless organization.
Sometimes the prices the government place only stands as a hindrance to the poor from participating such events. Should we need to take part in this matter, our country laws need to be revised.
Kathyali ameneyu not serious. He had plenty of time to sort his fees and papers. I do think he has no money. He should have gone cloud funding. But campaigning is very expensive. He just wanted publicity for Chamba and himself and his mum.
Akamati chibwana chenicheni ndi ichi. How can the whole retired mother from the civil swervice accept runningmate position? Amayi koma nawonso mutu muli bwino???!!!!!!! sheeee. Uku ndiye kuwatengera a Malawi ku mtoso zoona dziko lidzyendetsedwe ndi mwana komanso amake? kkkkkkkkk Koma malawi wafikapo. Inu a mabungwe musalankhulapo apa bwanji? Koma APM kulowa after Bingu ndiye nkhani eeee shame!!!!
Kanundu
Malawi being the poorest nation we need to be serious, people are prematurely dying in hospitals bcoz of politics ya zibwanayi, we shouldn’t entertain much of this.Nothing personal with Ras, if anything i respect his confidence which most malawians lack but really is this close to what it will take? Malawians we have alot of work ahead.
What Chikomeni has done can be interpreted as a form of protest at two levels. First, by picking his mother as running mate, he is laughing at family-based political parties. Society appears to disapprove his choice of running mate while accepting dynasties in DPP, UDF, PP and AFORD. Second, his reporting at COMESA Hall without paying the 2000000 fee raises critical questions about participation in a democracy. His protest exposes our society as that which accepts the better off to rule over us. The two issues are critical areas that Masters and PhD students may focus on for some years… Read more »