Mutharika accepts Ansah’s resignation: Chilima asks court on Malawi poll date
President Peter Mutharika has accepted Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah’s resignation request, Presidential spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani has said.
Ansah tendered her resignation, a year after elections that were annulled by the Constitutional Court and this month the Supreme Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the lower court.
Kalilani said on Friday that President Mutharika received Ansah’s resignation request and has accepted her wish to step aside and revert to Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal where she is a judge.
“I can confirm that His Excellency the President Pro. Arthur Peter Mutharika has accepted the decision of Dr. Jane Mayemu Ansah SC to step aside as chairperson of the MEC,” said Kalilani.
“In accepting the decision, the President has described Dr . Jane Ansah as a distinguished Malawian patriot who has served her country well and selflessly,” he added.
Ansah also prides herself for good work: “I have fought a good fight and I go happy. I have worked with clean hands and I have no skeletons in my cupboard.”
Meanwhile, opposition parties have filed to the Supreme Court of Appeal an application for clarification on who is supposed to set the date for the forthcoming presidential elections between Parliament and the electoral body.
The Constitutional Court ordered that a fresh election be held within 150 days of its February 3 ruling.
The electoral commission had initially set July 2, which was day 149 since the ruling, but has since brought the date forward to June 23.
The country’s estranged Vice President Saulos Chilima, , who is running mate to Tonse Alliance torch-bearer Lazarus Chakwera, has instructed his lawyers to seek court’s direction.
One of Chilima’s lawyers, Khumbo Soko, said the court has been asked to “clarify whether its Parliament that must fix the date or the Electoral Commission.”
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CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS STARTS HERE. the supreme court judges have to chose names amongst themselves as to who will be suitable mec chairperson atleast 3 names for the president to chose from. after he will send one name to pac for confirmation. who will this judge be?
Fair thee well, you have done a great disservice to the young women who are looking up for role models. You are a disgraceful and History will not be kind to you!
Jane Ansah has failed all the good willing Malawian professional women, she is a set back in our fight for equality!!! her arrogance and gross incompetence has put us many decades back……… this a real shame. Our fight for a sit at the table has taken a serious hit,…… she has taken us way back before to rock bottom
She is a failure and will pay big time. Why siding with DPP? You are suppose to be neutral. We know the bank accounts Peter deposited billions to you in RSA. We are coming after you. You will vomit it, every penny. I have never seen a crooked woman like Jane. A real crook.
The court already said that parliament should be the one to set the date…..mwangozolowera kupita ku court basi..court lasanduka kusewera..
Madam Ansah did well. Running an electoral commission is not easy task. Lets hope that her successor is up to the task. No time to learn on job. Malawi must unite behind the new chair, no matter who s/he may be
Chilima is sick in his brain. Akungobwebwetuka u runningmate omwewu kusekerera u vp poti amadya zaulele? Tikudziwano kuti azathawanso ku mcp pasanathe ndi mwezi umodzi
Have the court/parliament or whoever the appointing authority is, bring in past commissioners and chair to run this election, (those that have credibility). Lets go!
“I have fought a good fight…..”” she says. What a load of rubbish. It’s a pity she had to wait up to now to do the needful. My take is that people would have applauded her had she retired after the ConCourt ruling. Someone advised her wrongly to stay on because, as it has turned out, her apparent stubbornness has dented her CV/Legacy.
The Supreme Court already said the poll date should be set by parliament so why is Chilima going to court again?