Mutharika insists cannot fire MEC: Malawi leader take PAC to task on political violence
President Peter Mutharika on Wednesday took Public Affairs Committee (PAC) to task for not holding opposition political leaders accountable for post-election violence while sticking to his guns that he cannot fire Malawi Electoral Commisison (MEC).
Mutharika told PAC, a quasi-religious body formed in 1992 during the country’s political transition from one-party to multiparty system of government , on Wednesday at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre when they met to discuss issues of national interest.
One of the issues discussed was the call to fire commissioners at the electoral body who the High Court of Malawi sitting as a Constitutional Court found gross incompetence in the commissioners’ management of the annulled May 2019 presidential election results.
The court, therefore, ordered Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee (PAC) to further evaluate the commissioners’ performance and make appropriate recommendations to President Peter Mutharika.
PAC, upon assessment, recommended that the President fires the commissioners and replace them with a new set ahead of the fresh presidential poll that the National Assembly has proposed be held on May 19 2020.
But President Mutharika on Wednesday insisted there is nothing wrong with the Jane Ansah led commission which has already started the fresh election preparations. But the holding of the fresh poll will depend on the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal ruling on the appeal, which MEC filed requesting the court to uphold the May 21 2019 presidential election and results.
Just before the May 2019 elections, PAC made leaders of political parties to sign what it called Peace Declaration.
The declaration bound them to accept the results of the elections and uphold peace.
However, Malawi has witnessed unprecedented political violence organized by Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) with their street domonstrationes joined by UTM leader Saulos Chilima and Lazarus Chakwera the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential hopeful.
Throughout, PAC did not hold Chakwera and Chilima to account for violating the peace accord and for refusing to accept the results as signed.
Instead, the only known response PAC attempted was to mediate in the political impasse, dragging in Mutharika who upheld peace all through the time.
And now during his meeting with PAC, Mutharika put PAC in the hotspot.
He told PAC officials bluntly that he was disappointed that they failed to criticize the violence while it happened.
“In every election, you have always insisted that political leaders must commit to peace and accept results of the Election. I have always wondered if you, as Public Affairs Committee fulfilled this duty in the 2019 Election.
“I and many other Malawians have been disappointed that PAC failed to criticize violence for 9 good months,” said Mutharika.
The Malawi leader told the PAC officials that Malawi is in a state of political tension today because some political leaders decided not to accept results of the election.
Against their own endorsement of the Peace Declaration, these leaders decided to use violence to express electoral grievances.
Thirdly, he said Malawi is is in a political mess today because the High Court failed to deliver justice based on law, truth and evidence.
“We all agree that the Concourt Judgement was a miscarriage of justice,” said the President.
And the President hauled PAC over the coals for not discharging its God-given duty to condemn criminality and injustice and failing to protect Malawi’s democracy from being “hijacked and destroyed before our eyes”.
“People are committing violence, criminal activities and serious injustice in the name of human rights. As religious leaders, it is your duty to ensure that there is justice in the land where God anointed you to serve,” he reminded PAC.
He therefore wondered whether PAC would rise to the challenge and ensure that losers in the fresh elections accept the results and commit to be peace.
“If some people lose and take the matter to Court again, how will you ensure that the Court will deliver justice? How will you ensure that there will be no violence? I am putting these questions to you because we have the right to count on you as religious leaders,” said Mutharika.
The President reminded PAC about the important place it occupies in Malawi’s history and how that high regard raises expectations about how it functions to protect democracy.
“You are the committee that played a big role in the foundation of our democracy. Therefore, it is my expectation that you have the duty to protect democracy in this country,” said Mutharika.
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Tilekereni ana tipitilize kukazinga
Good that APM told off PAC idiots who have all along kept quiet whilst Chakwera, Chilima and HRDC were terrorising us – destroying our property and businesses.
Great that Mutharika talked about flawed Concourt ruling which was delivered by corrupt and incompetent judges.
Muthalika thinks he is the wisest and the most intelligent person in Malawi. Very stupid. Does he think all the five judges made a mistake? We have very experienced judges like Kapindu. Does Muthalika think that the use tippex is acceptable? Does he think that fake documents are acceptable? Look at what is happening in Phalombe and Thyolo where 11 year old boys and girls are registering to vote. I am not very near the legal profession but I can see that things went wrong. Even his trusted Jane Ansah said MEC did not procure tippex. Please Muthalika don’t waste our bundle. Don’t waste our taxes. We know you as a serial thief. Stupid and no wonder people want you to die just like they wanted Bingu to die. Mache.
Well done APM, this thing called PAC should reflect on its flaws and partiality. Very good reasoning and thoughts over there…
Ofcourse he cannot fire mec and Ansah siakudziwana ma plan odzabela ma votes, its expected so I don’t even see the reason why pple want to reason with Mr Tipp-ex we can only rely on the supreme court basi
PAC I told you that you are wasting your time whatever you say nothing will move Peter!!! Mubanja munthu amalumbira patendere and pamavuto I will not run away….,, l like peter!!!!! Whatever u say He will not let down Jane Ansah . He is not like you guys who dupe your friends girlfriend family and your parents after they have helped you.
Do You remember about chaponda chimanga,
Albino committee chairman those guys who caused havoc in parliament, those who destroyed mec and nrr equipment in Blantyre!!!!!!.,,, eve those who plundering government moneys….,, these are his friends
Peter will do nothing to Jane what come may
I do not know who summoned who. It seems this older fellow than me is hardhearted for nothing. PAC must take its charge to civic educate this bro of mine. The meeting was a waste of our time.
As long as parliamentary and local poll results are not annulled, there is not reason whatsoever to blame MEC or to fire commissioners. Tippex was used in all the elections – presidential, parliamentary and local. A ruling by the constitutional court is fundamental. If they say tippex use was an irregularity, then parliamentary and local poll results should be cancelled too.
If ConCourt judgement is right, then our courts should have speedily acknowledged that tippex affected all elections and therefore parliamentary and local elections should be annulled. The issue of bringing a petition in 8 days does not stand because the Constitutional Court ruling has fundamental implications to the other elections because they were run together. Besides, our constitution stipulates that presidential and parliamentary elections should be run together which exposes the foolish, corrupt and incompetent judges. What have the courts done so far regarding the challenge by former MPs on parliamentary results? Nothing. Why? Because tippex was not a problem as we are meant to believe.
The court do not decide on behalf of people.Mps have a constituency where one represents if he or she has issues it is provided he she must go to court .Chakwera and Chilima sought legal redress on presidential elections.MPs with issues went to court and one in Mangochi has been nulified showing incompetence of MEC.But mind you we are blaming MEC but the main factor is DPP which is a beneficiary.If the supreme court can connect DPP and MEC in the elections DPP can be disqualified which is true
Which in turn proves tha MEC is not incompetent if some elections were fairly done
Well done Mutharika for exposing the corrupt ConCourt judges and PAC
Concourt judgement was flawed becuase the foolish judges thought they could force the illegal parliament to pass bills in favour of Chilima and Chakwera. The Speaker and opposition MPs failed to change the constitution and resorted to illegally amending an Act.
Tippex was used in all elections so saying that irregularities affected presidential polls is deliberate ploy by Chilima and Chakwera with judges to get power.
Concourt judgement was delivered by corrupt and incompetent judges. These judges strayed to 50+1 and yet did not highlight how tippex was used in parliamentary and local polls.
Let’s see how the appeal will end. Isn’t this a case of an expectant mothers cursing the midwife?
Malawi is our country. If the corrupt and Incompetent judges want to bring conflict, let them do so. They will be sitting ku thengere (bush) judging cases there.
PAC is a useless organisation. It stood by as MCP, UTM and HRDC terrorised Malawians because the body’s members are opposition sympathisers.
Indeed they endorsed the violent demontrations.
Mutharika is right. MEC run other elections which the courts have not annulled. This shows that the annulment of presidential poll results is a plot by the opposition with the judges.
Komadi gogo yu nzeru zinatha. Firstly he fails to realise and understand that he’s an illegal president (mr 36%), secondly that his ansah ought to have been kicked out ages ago. May be he’s banking on her to do the dirty tricks again. And old man, why don’t you condemn your thick violent cadets?
36% what about the rest? Be detailed.
With that logic then 75% didn’t want Chakwera,80% didn’t want Chilima. The truth is the Concourt was Ana attempt by Tumbuka judges to rule through the backdoor. It doesn’t make sense. It’s called tripartite elections, they happen at the same time, how do you only annul one. Why didn’t the judges order recounts or new polling in affected constituencies? It’s a flawed ruling. Let’s hope Supreme Court does better.
MEC commissioners will not be fired but dissolved due to incompetence
Let the two team up in ordered to bring peace to loving Malawi but till now there is nothing tangible . This shows how selfish our leaders are. Iam one of people supporting MCP and UTM association but I don’t see any future for the move.
Can he both side of what he is talking about. Can he not see his wrong doing? This is not a throne.
I see no substance in this article as it was written from APM’s perspective. It appears as if the PAC members had been summoned to Sanjika to be chided. The writer has included nothing that PAC members said to APM during the meeting. It makes me wonder always whether Nyasatimes has reporters with the right skills who can write a well balanced article. #HoldingMyHeadInMyHands.
This has been one sided reporting. Nothing has been mentioned about PAC s going there for. Did they go there to be lectured on or hear the Big man shout? Definitely the President will not talk good of the Court’s ruling now because it is against his wishes. Let’s await the final verdict if it’ll be to the contrary!
A MCP/UTM simunati kuona Nyenkhwe
tikhale kae cete
revolution is never stopped. it is just delayed
APM reasoning is laughable, why does he think that his reasoning is the only correct one???? Why can’t he see that MEC incompetence created political violence. Why cant he agree that a competent court of 5 and not 1 judge indeed found MEC incompetent? His ego tells him to criticise the judges???? He believes bribery is the route to rule Malawi. No!! Mr. President.We Malawians believe in the rule of Law as stipulated in our constitution. Act in accordance with the law and not Money. Looking forward to the day the FDH owner will be brought to court. Live with Chilungamo and you will never complain or regret!!!!
Didn’t MEC run presidential and local polls? Were these annulled too? The fact is ConCourt was made us of corrupt and incompetent judges who wanted to Chilima and Chakwera. They received bribes and their judgement has serious flaws. As we speak, our parliament failed to change the constitution on 50+1 an issue which petitioners did not bring to the court.
Your reasoning is same as APM. Note that modalities of presdential and local polls are different. As stated one is national the others local. The case in Concourt is national other cases concluded and unconcluded were/are local. Your allegation on bribery is hearsay the only solid allegation in court is the one involving the FDH owner.
Foseki APM can’t fire Jane Ansah because Amadya
a mihavani, amihipiti anguru
So Nalikukuti was moulting (kusuwa) and other people thought he was dead?
Many times i wonder how could malawians choose this fool Muntharika as their leader? Even this new PAC is useless for failing to hold him and his MEC to account. Honestly, do you invite to dinner an armed robber who stole everything from you and killed your family for the sake of peace? Is peace a new tool to silence others in their persue of justice? It seems our professor president doesn’t know the difference between peace and justice and which one should come first before the other. There can never be peace without justice, those who take away justice from others don’t deserve any peace. Truth is dpp connived with MEC to steal elections period, and PAC could not condemn the victim and defend the culprit. Why would one team insist to play a game under the supervision of a specific ref? And when that very same ref. makes a mistake and award an offside goal; turns out is the very same ref. who is the first to cheers the goal like what Ansah did cheering with dpp; and when the match commissioners disallows the offside goal, it turns out is the very same ref. who runs to the sports associations to legitimise the goal; and this stupid Muntharika want to make us believe this all is ok? Malawians wake-up!
You can’t say you won an election with obvious elements of rigging. It is not acceptable Sir. After all if the majority don’t want you why can’t you quit? Why insist? You got money and everything. What do you lose? Unless there is a lot you don’t want to be exposed.
He has already rigged this one and he is having a good time.
just wait….God is not James…
Between the opposition parties and APM(DPP),who is to blame here for not accepting the results,i guess its APM himself thus why he used the MEC to fool the Malawians.By not firing MEC members that shows he knows something about these people.Jane Ansah and co are not the only ones who are educated in Malawi,APM is showing his stubbornness again while God gave him another chance to repent.
Peter can’t fire mec because he knows they are his agent to steal the votes.
Whether Muthalika wants it or not ikudza nthawi where he will be forced to fire the MEC commissioners INCLUDING Ansa and appoint for new MEC before elections are held and charge commissioner with criminal charges. Muthalika kukakamira mpando kumupweteketsa zimene wasankha kuti azichita zaumbava ndi chisankho monga taonera kale dzulo pochita connive ndi NRB and MEC is a syndicate and this will put in trouble many people. Anthu adzavulala chifukwa chofuna kumuyika Peter pampando mwachinyengo zomwe sizitheka pakali pano. Munayesa kugula majudge zinakukanikani. Ulendo uno sizitheka..
Absolutely nonsense … At any organisation, performance failures are a responsibility of a CEO.
The reason people took to the streets is because of the miscarriage of justice on Malawians inflicted by MEC and DPP and the continued thievery by the corrupt DPP government.
Many Malawians are tired with this DPP regime.
Nalikukuti you will be jobless on July 3. Nonsense!
I think this story is useless, why do people deliberately try to divert from the truth? Mutharika benefited from a rigged election then how could you say he held peace. This issue was anout Malawians not Chilima or Chakwera
He knows that he fires answer jeni, she will reveal all the clandestine things that he and his MEC have done and continue doing. God knows why he is still insisting of being incapable of firing them. This deserves nothing but death indeed.