Mutharika accuses Malawi judges of participating in ‘regime change’ activities

President Peter Mutharika on Friday said he is ready for re-election bid in the fresh presidential election but accused the Supreme Court of Appeal of disregarding the  Constitution when it upheld a ruling by the Constitutional Court to nullify the 2019 presidential election and order a fresh vote .

President Mutharika: Travesty of justice

Mutharika, Malawi’s president since 2014, won the election last year with a 38.5% share of the vote. Opposition party leader Lazarus Chakwera came second with 35.41% but  Constitutional Court judges annulled the vote on February 3 2020, citing irregularities, and ordered a new election within 150 days.

However, Mutharika who maintained that the Constitutional Court ruling was  miscarriage of justice, said he was ready to seek fresh mandate for a final five years term through the ballot before embarking on a fraught succession process.

“Yes I am. I am ready for fresh elections,” said Mutharika responding to MBC TV host Vincent Khonyongwa during Talk to the President programme .

He said Supreme Court of Appeal failed to correct the “travesty of justice”, saying people all over the world are laughing at Malawi, saying judges did not follow the evidence, the law and  disregarded the Constitution when they upheld a ruling by the Constitutional Court despite not finding evidence of rigging or that the irregularities in the management of the election changed its outcome.

Mutharika further accused the Judiciary of participating in “regime change” activities

“I feel sorry for the future of this country and the future of democracy [following the court precedence],” he said.

He urged Malawians to “vote wisely, look at the issues,” saying, the elections is “ between building this country or destroying this country.

“A choice  between moving forward or moving backward.”

Mutharika also said he is “ very concerned”  with the coronavirus pandemic and the large gatherings that political campaigns are attracting.

“If the elections will take place am ready to compete,” he said.

Mutharika said he has not been on campaign trail because of the coronavirus threat, saying he was thinking of other means of reaching out to the electorate other than podium politics with large gatherings.

He said it was bizarre that even leader of opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Lazarus Chakwera  is so concerned that he is not campaigning on rallies.

“First we have to know when elections will be held and I will figure out that in my diary,” he said.

Mutharika also said he accepted Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah’s resignation, but said it was a complete nonsense to say that Ansah was incompetent.”

The President said Ansah is a  “distinguished Malawian patriot” and one of the most learnt judgein the Malawi judiciary.

Mutharika disclosed that  he will soon appoint a new MEC chairperson and a team of commissioners to manage the forthcoming fresh presidential election.

He also dismissed allegations that he wouldn’t appoint a new team of commissioners amid concerns that government would use the coronavirus pandemic to avoid the fresh election.

Mutharika said he would abide by the law and appoint a new team by June 5, 2020 the day that the contract of the current commissioners expires.

He added that any decision on whether to hold the election or not will not have any bearing on the appointments.

He further said only Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) will be allowed to submit names of Commissioners.

The law states that only political parties that secured 10 percent of parliamentary seats can submit names of commissioners.

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Ken Phiri
Ken Phiri
3 years ago

I find it concerning that at a time when we are preparing for fresh presidential elections one of the candidates should be in State House and using state resources for campaigning and to illegally allocating resources for use by his running mate. To make matters worse one of the candidates is allowed to decide whether or not to assent to the enabling laws for the same elections in which he is a candidate. Zoona? During the 8 May w020 SCA judgement Justice Twea touched on this fubdamental issue. But his statement was presented outside the unanimous judgement These matters are… Read more »

Banda
Banda
3 years ago
Reply to  Ken Phiri

Totally Agree DISGRACEFUL actions of the President and his Running Mate. Even today UDFDPP ATUPELE was distributing DODMA Food Parcels in MZUZU. THATS NOT RIGHT. Prior to ALL elections Cabinet and Parliment is dissolved to ensure Government Resources DO NOT FAVOUR SITTING Government. SHAME such CORRUPTION during Election. VOTE NEW ERA of Government VOTE CHANGE STOP CORRUPTION

Muamadubie Chitakale Boy
Muamadubie Chitakale Boy
3 years ago

It is very painful to hav a president in a country like the type of APM.

#NotMyPresident
#NotMyPresident
3 years ago

Pumbwa iwe. Who asked you to take the matter to the highest court? Mesa munali okonzeka. The problem this time you did not hike the bribe to 1 billion. Still this would not move an inch

Supreme Court
Supreme Court
3 years ago

Mr. President it is understandable to be sad and depressed an hide away. You SHOULD feel wonderful to have accomplished as much as you have to be elected the 5 President of Malawi. YOUR ACTIONS TODAY appear to be ARROGANT with NO RESPECT FOR THE LAW which Supreme Court will NOT hold you in ESTEEM for BEING in CONTEMPT of Court you WILL BE DRAGGED from State House for failing to hold Elections June 23rd.,…. No Longer a Good Legacy for You… The Court Must UP HOLD THE RULE of LAW no if’s or BUTTS

Benito
3 years ago

We need to respect our judges. The president should be exemplary in upholding the law. Let’s not downgrade our judges just because the rolling has not favoured us. This is our country we need to respect the laws. You took the issue to supreme Court because you were seeking Justice. Justice was given.

Livulezi river
Livulezi river
3 years ago

Vuto la munthu osapemphera ndi limenelo.
Amaona zinthu ku thupi pamene anzake amaziona mu uzimu, if one knows wat I mean.kkķkk hahaha
By the way, amongst the 3 presidential hopefuls , it is only Apm who don’t pray~sapemphera.
Or is there anybody who saw Apm going to church or any mosque during his presidency?
If he hapez to go , then , it is during campaign period
Very sad dev

#NotMyPresident
#NotMyPresident
3 years ago
Reply to  Livulezi river

It does not matter whether he goes to church or not. Leadership is not about fearing deity, but doing the right thing for our country. Fighting corruption, fighting poverty, nepotism. We have had leaders who went to church but still stole $500,000.

Supreme Court
Supreme Court
3 years ago

Mr. President YOU sit on the THRONE by the GRACE of the Constituional Court up to July 4th, 2020 after said date YOU WILL BE REMOVED and a NEW INTERIM PRESIDENT APPOINTED. Will remind you that the Election of May 2019 was desolved by the said Court you are NOT a DULY Elected President but deemed an interim President on a FIXED TERM of 150 Days. If YOU FAIL to vacate the Position and State House the Newly Appointed Interim President WILL Utilise his POWERS granted by this Court to instruct the ARMY to Forcefully have YOU removed.

Coronavirus Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba

You are the most deadly virus. You are Covid-1940. Leave Malawi alone. You only came back from US running away from a Nursing Home. You attack the judges who are bringing sanity. The judges saw that democracy was slipping away under your corrupt leadership. You corrupted MEC through FDH. Thom Mpinganjira wanted to do the same to the judges you attack now. Why didn’t you condemn Thom Mpinganjira for what he did. Koma agogo inu mumawona ngati a Malawi ngopusa.

Dpp back to udf
3 years ago

Here is an old man who gives oxygen to bigotry. In other words Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba is not fit to be a leader. He is a bigot. He wanted the judgement to go his way. Inu a Alamu Pumani Mwakalamba if people don’t wish you well it’s because you’re not a patriotic leader. You have your own interests and not the interest of Malawi. No wonder you are trying to bring back udf. Malawians don’t like the Muluzi family. You can see that violence is back. There was no political violence under Kamuzu and Bingu. When Bingu announced that he… Read more »

Jerusalem Bible College
Jerusalem Bible College
3 years ago

Real gentlemen accept defeat peacefully and move on. U will never reverse the court judgment no matter how powerful u may think you are.

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