Nkosi says MEC erred declaring ‘Tippex’ winner: Hangs Ansah for circumventing will of Malawians

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioner Reverend Mary Nkosi has proclaimed tha truth at the Public Appointments Committee of parliament that the pollster erred in declaring President Peter Mutharika winner in the May 21 presidential poll.

Commissioner Bishop Mary Nkosi taking Oath before Parliamentary Appointment Committee–pic by Lisa Kadango
MEC Commissioner Bishop Mary Nkosi  spoke under  oath to how commissioners mishandled May 21 2019 elections.

Nkosi said the commission would have asked for a time waiver from the High Court on the announcement of the poll results in order to investigate thoroughly the irregularities.

“My conscience tells me that we erred in announcing somebody a winner,” said Nkosi.

“ We should have gone to the courts to seek for the extension of time before the results were announced to look into the irregularly of tippex and the changing of the figures,” she said.

Nkosi was calm, recollected and honest in all her responses to the members of parliament sitting in the committee.

She  told the committee that the issue of the irregularities was not dealt with decisively, saying the issue just popped up at an adhoc meeting and the MEC chairperson Jane Ansah did not show seriousness to deal with the matter.

Nkosi said the issue of irregularity  was not taken seriously by the commissioners, saying there was just rush to announce the results within the Constitutional prescribed time at the expense of the gross irregularities and anomalies.

She added: “We did not allow alterations of results. We were surprised that presiding officers were altering results.”

The commissioner  also told the committee that she only learnt that the MEC chief executive officer Sam Alufandika wrote the election auditors to accept the tippexed results and manipulated votes when the issue was in the Constitutional Court, saying the commissioners were not consulted.

“If I have to be honest, I only came to know that there was a letter written to BDO to continue announcing altered results during the election case. I didn’t know that letters were being written at the commission,” she said.

She said the authorisation came from MEC Chairperson Justice Jane Ansah but was not shared among other commissioners.

On why the MEC used teachers as presiding officers. Commissioner Nkosi  told the committee that commissioners were a bit jittery about using teachers bearing in mind that there were concerns during 2014 elections as teachers couldn’t do simple addition of figures.

“But we were told to avoid an uproar since we will be using their property, we should go ahead and use teachers,” she said.

Commissioner Nkosi says the balance of power is very critical at the Commission, saying  most of the times one man’s voice is not heard because there are more commissioners from one party.

“Sometimes people become very political when you question certain things instead of us achieving what we’re supposed to achieve,” said Nkosi,  asking that probably this is also an area where Parliament should look into.

The Constitutional Court annulled the presidential election results because of what the court said irregularities and anomalies which had been widespread, systematic and grave that the integrity of the results had been severely compromised.

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Piper
Piper
4 years ago

Why are these MEC people still cutting loose on the streets and still getting paid? In a normal society they would be in jail serving their sentences for their crimes. But in Malawi, they are about to run another election ! Someone pinch me…

Mandado@147
Mandado@147
4 years ago

They did not erred that was their intention but they roped you in their criminal agenda cause she was aware of the loopholes all along! It is an organised crime!! Big thieves in Malawi have law degree!

Achalume
Achalume
4 years ago

Good morning once again children of God, Mary Nkosi is one of the Commissioners I salute for being open to PAC, am sure had it been she spoke earlier I hope by now akanamusowetsa kalekale, tili ndi zigawenga mu Boma think of our late Brother Njaunju up to now nothing tangible has been done. We have very Old Commissioners I hope they are over 60 Years and incompetence what do we expect from them, Amos 5:12-13 the Bible says “For I know how many are your offences and how great your sins. There are those who oppress the Innocent and… Read more »

bwanyama
bwanyama
4 years ago

Next time all there meetings should be recorded to avoid the repeat of mess.

Soso
Soso
4 years ago

IZOOOOOOO DZIMAKHADET OLO MUKHUWEKHUWE APA WAULULABE NKOSI MUNYA MUONA SIMUNATI.

Flamingo
Flamingo
4 years ago
Reply to  Soso

anali kuti nthawi yonseyi, opportunist

Badboss
Badboss
4 years ago
Reply to  Flamingo

ANALI KWANU

Soso
Soso
4 years ago

KOMA MAKHADETI MA COMMENT ANU KOMA NDE MUDAPANGIDWADI BRAINWASHED MBUZI ZOKHAZOKHA ZONSE ZIANTHU ZAKE,, DZAZIMUNA… MBULI, DZAZIKAZI… MBULIANAS…. TANGOWONANI… MCHACHA, GELEZELIDA, BEN, BIG CHIMUS, ETC. LERO MKUDZATULUKIRA MWANA LOMWE IVY MTAFU KKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK AYOOOOO INEEEE. KOMA LATE NGA MTAFU ANALODZEDWA CHANI KUKAKWATIRA THIS MBULIANA FROM MULANJE EISH

Chamunorwa
Chamunorwa
4 years ago

The Editorial must be ashamed of publishing falsehoods. Listening to Reverend Nkosi on Tv , nowhere did she aportion blame on anyone. To her everything was done collectively. Dissenting voices will always be there. Even in heaven there are there..Thats Lucifer was chased away. On a scale of 1 to 10 she was honest enough not score hundred. 70% is a good number by any standards..Slowhere did she did directly blame Jane Ansah or the Commision. Maybe if she had scored 40% that would have showed lack of confidence in the whole electoral system. Shame on you Mr Editor and… Read more »

Mandado@147
Mandado@147
4 years ago
Reply to  Chamunorwa

Maybe you listened on MBC KKKKKK cause on zodiak TV she stressed that at times it was the CEO or Jane surpassing some decisions commissioners were supposed to make or be apart of!! This time watch the rebroadcast real good on Times before you dumb ass comment on here!! look at the negative comments they speak volumes….

Maliseche a Pumbwa
Maliseche a Pumbwa
4 years ago

Lock them up! Lock them Up! Lock them up!

Chiga
Chiga
4 years ago

Tung’ande you have little idea how dangerous and fatal it can be to act ‘holy’ among the majority ‘unholy’ bunch at the wrong time. This is similar to how Malawi lost an honest man in Justice Maxon Mbendera. When you refuse to go along with the mafia they don’t hesitate a fraction of a minute to silence you forever! When Mbendera indicated he was going to spill the beans to free his troubled conscience they smartly eliminated him. And remember how the poll clerk who transferred SKC’s name to Likoma was eliminated in what appeared to be an innocent accident.… Read more »

Malawi belong to the citizens

Thanks alot mayi Nkosi ,mbava ndi mbava ndipo muulure onse analandila ndalama Ku choka Ku DPP.chipani choipa kwabasi, Chilungamo chimamasula

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