MEC threatens to take MCP to court as public chase electoral officials and lawyers

Malawi Electoral Commission has threatened to drag the Malawi Electoral Congress Party (MCP) to court if it does not withdraw a media statement withdraw accusing the electoral body of suspiciously soliciting signatures for new electoral results sheets.

Alfandika: MEC lawyers and staff are meeting presiding officers to prepare for affidavits to be used in court

MEC chief elections officer Sam Alfandika said in a statement made available to Nyasa Times on Sunday that MCP will be held responsible for any loss of life for MEC staff or lawyers of loss or damage to property in the course of MEC’s preparation for a Constitutional Court case hearing on July 29.

Alfandika was reacting to a statement issued by MCP spokesman  Reverend Maurice Munthali who alleged that some District Commissioners  were working with MEC to lure presiding officers and other stakeholders to sign what he termed  “the clandestine” result sheets in exchange for money.

The MEC chief elections officer rejected the allegations, saying MCP were peddling “a misleading and malicious statement” that can incite hatred and unkindness towards MEC staff.

He said MEC lawyers and staff are meeting presiding officers to prepare for affidavits for the ongoing court case.

“No presiding officer has been requested, forced or induced with money to sign  for a new election results sheet or form as alleged in the statement issued by the MCP,” said  Alfandika.

In central region district of Kasungu, the public chased MEC officials and lawyers when they wanted to collect signatures of presiding officers for the May 21 Tripartite Elections.

Police spokesman in Kasungu, Harry Namwaza said: “People did not want MEC officials to collect the signatures they are looking for.”

Namwaza said police intervened quickly and the situation was contained.

But commentator Negracious Justin  has said MEC should have appreciated that the tension is exacted by the suspicious conduct of its agents which could have been avoided “had it applied its mind prudently and chose to be careful and transparent.”

He said MEC failed to clear rumours that these lawyers are going about soliciting for signatures to documents which it failed to produce during the Court-sanctioned period of inspection/disclosure.

“Instead of coming forward to clear such rumours, MEC remained adamantly silent and expected the communities to play cowards or be fools.

“Prior to the announcements of the results, MEC was releasing frequent updates to the public regarding every step being undertaken in the discharge of its duties. This was not a favour toward the public. Rather, it was in compliance with the laws governing the process,” Negracious wrote.

He accused the electoral body of “acting funny, childish and careless.”

MCP president Lazarus Chakwera and UTM Party president Saulos Chilima are seeking nullification of the presidential results and the Constitutional Court is scheduled to start hearing the petition on July 29.

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NYOKO
4 years ago

Alufwandika ******matonga ake

Prophet Msyaismah
Prophet Msyaismah
4 years ago

GOD IS SHORTLY PUNISHING ALL MEC KEY STAFF AND TEARS WILL NOT DRY UP EASILY.
DOOM! DOOM! MALAWIANS HAVE CRIED TO THEIR LIVING GOD ENOUGH.

elukuluku
elukuluku
4 years ago

Go to court asomangowophyeza ndie ukayaluke kuli ma learned judges uko zoonna kumafuna ma signatures haaa zomwe anasayinira ma officers amenewa zili kuti zavutatu apa nanga omwe mukuwaphawa akawasayinila ndani

President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
President Mkango Lion Manthakanjenjemereza
4 years ago

MEC is acting funny in the whole process and if Alufandika is personnally enjoying with this government, it is not for every body. MEC leave the Malawians alone.

Nyenyanyenya
Nyenyanyenya
4 years ago

DPP have taken Malawians as MABULUTU. In other countries the Army could have taken over by now but our Army is so respective and hold cloves for Peter. But one day things shall be different. What is funny is that a minister cannot talk words of unity (kondwani) while the so called president is inciting anger to other parties. Why can he too step down and leave the seat for Kondwani ? Mkazi uyu wa ku kota kota ndi peter have no manners how to persuade Malawians and yet ANABERA MAVOTI Using akuti eti pastor jane, Mulungu waziwonera ndipo inenso… Read more »

Chingoni pa stone
4 years ago

Ine ndingoti Chwe mwana Chwe 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 😂

Njolo mpilu
Njolo mpilu
4 years ago

Tikuti get your arses off the innocent malawians.
Alifandika amacota kulankhula ngati akumunyenga atagonekela khosi tsiku lopeleka ma presidential leeters ku Comesa kuja akudziwa kuti angotigoneka dhilu apanga kale ndi fattan, nundwe son uja mwanama kuti ali hit and run. Mwakoza inu mmaopa kukuululani yanu ija ya Lule. Mukunya simunati. Kutitengela kuntoso eti!!!

Vindere Va Kufikapo
Vindere Va Kufikapo
4 years ago

Help me understand this, MEC provided Tipexx and now they are wondering and asking their officers why they used Tipexx?????

Maliseche
Maliseche
4 years ago

What MEC needs to understand is that your credibility is already in the toilet now you need to tread with at most Professionalism if you are going to win back public trust. This exercise of interviewing officers after the fact raises a lot of suspicion in an already volatle electorate and you should have known bette!r

Matako
Matako
4 years ago

We dare Alufandika to try his juvenile tactics here in Lilongwe. Your lawyers and yourself will go back in body bags. You are not only a disgrace to our democracy but you do not deserve to live. Both you and Ansah are a perverted cancer which must be eradicated.Why are you looking for signatures now after you already certified the election results? You must be taking Malawians for fools. MEC is supposed to be independent and yet you are masquarading with DPP trying to pay POs to sign falsified documents so you can submit to the courts. It will not… Read more »

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