Muslim body warns MEC against confusing Malawians: Mbendera censured

A local grouping, the Islamic Commission for Justice and Freedom (ICJF) which champions justice among voiceless citizens is warning the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) against bringing confusion in the country.

The warning follows remarks by the chairperson for MEC, Justice Maxon Mbendera, that he received a report that Malawi Defence Force was ordered to storm the national tally centre in Blantyre in order to force the recount of the ballot.

In a statement made available to Nyasa Times, ICJF wonders why MEC Chairperson is making such sentiments four months after elections.

Secretary General for the organization, Hassan Chimwala, says it is an insult to Malawians for the MEC to make such revelations as electorates are still nursing the wounds of the just ended tripartite elections.

“May be if we had known the agenda of the chairperson (Justice Mbendera) by raising these revelations now. What does he want to achieve? What does he want Malawians to do when they get this information,” reads part of the statement.

Chimwala has suggested that the development would have carried more weight if MEC came up with the revelations immediately it got the information.

“In fact Justice Mbendera was supposed to come up with this information long time ago, if not immediately he got it,” Chimwala said.

He also questioned the motive behind such remarks as Malawians expected to cast their in the by elections.

“We as ICJF are in doubtful if the October 7 by elections will be free and fair when the entrusted body to run the activities is behaving in this way.

“ICJF is advising MEC, as we agree with Malawians that the past elections were marred with numerous irregularities, that it’s time to put aside all these and make sure that this coming by-election should be free n fair,” concluded the statement.

Justice Mbendera also said that he was summoned by the then state president Joyce Banda on suspicion that he was going to vote for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and donated K100 000 cash to the party.