Mutharika appoints new MEC team: Judge Kachale is chair, retains commissioners Mathanga and Kunje

President Peter Mutharika has constituted a new commission for the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)  with  High Court judge  Dr Chifundo Kachale appointed as its chairperson.

According to the statement signed by Chief Secretary to the Government Lloyd Muhara, the President appointed a seven-member commission including comprising four men and three women.

President Mutharika has retained his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) representatives Jean Mathanga and Angelina Kunje from immediate  past cohort declared declared incompetent by the court and parliament for the botched 2019 elections.

In the appointment, President Mutharika has also brought back a  former MEC commissioner  private practice lawyer Arthur Nanthuru. He previously served MEC on United Democratic Front (UDF) ticket.

Included in the new team is Malawi Electoral Support Network chairperson Steven Duwa, who is also Council of Non-Governmental Organisations in Malawi (Congoma)  executive director.

He has been appointed from the civil society not party representation despite opposition calling him a DPP plant.

Other commissioners nominated by main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) are corporate governance expert Dr Anthony Mukumbwa and  Olivia Liwewe a former member of parliament for Nkhotakota South.

The appointments are with immediate effect.