Patel clarifies: ‘PAC never fired MEC, only recommended to President’
Leader of United Democratic Front (UDF) in the House, Lillian Patel, has clarified that Members of Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee (PAC) only recommended to appointing authority President Peter Mutharika for the dismissal of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioners—including embattled chairperson Jane Ansah and not that they fired them.
Patel, who is member of the committee, said in parliament on Wednesday.
She confirmed that the committee passed a verdict that the commissioners were incompetent for the mismanagement of the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
“We never fired anybody. What we did, we recommended to the appointing authority (the President] that the commissioners were incompetent,” said Patel.
PAC is expected to present in the House a report on the competency of the commission to hold elections.
At least 12 members of PAC recommended firing the commissioners, six objected to the recommendation whilst three abstained.
PAC chairman Collins Kajawa confirmed he would be presenting the report on the competency of MEC to hold elections as ordered by the Constitutional Court on February 3.
“We are required by law to present such reports to the House,” said Kajawa.
However Kajawa said it was up to the President to adopt the recommendation to fire the commissioners or not.
PAC has a membership of 21, including chairperson, and comprises six legislators from the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), six independents, five from main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP), two from United Democratic Front (UDF) and one each for People’s Party (PP) and UTM Party.
The judges didn’t want to polarize the country but simply put there was rigging in presidential race in particular. So the court took easy way to let mec off the hook . Mec should thank God,but their arrogance can not allow them to . Actually they are competent arrogant who think malawi of 90s is the same malawi of 21st century!
How did you vote Mai Patel ???
Sorry to you my stupid Dad. I love you so much coz you like tipex when doing your things. Eish!!!!!!! bakha wachabechabe
Kunjakuno kuno MBUZI za anthu ndie zinkalulutila.Tieni nazoni.KomaNSIMBI umaka. PLITICAL PROPER GANDA
These PAC members were not even supposed to be entrusted with assessing the competence of commissioners. Like Commissioner Kunje rightly put it they were illegally elected as per the concourt judgement because the very tippexed votes put them where they are now. Hypocrites!
If you say MEC thru tippex put these people, PAC members, into where they are now and had access to assess the commissioners it’s because MEC used a wrong way of making these honourables into legislators. I rest my case in the truth
IWEYO NDI KUNJE WAKOYO NKHONO ZOKHAZOKHA, THE ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO PARLEY’ ON PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION DISPUTE NOT PARLIEMENTARY’S, SUKULU YANU NJAKUTI??
Very interesting! Pac want mec to be fired because of incompetence. Is Pac not there because of the same incompetence of mec?
May be that’s why politics is called a dirty game and chicewa version is more enlightening saying ‘NDALE’ meaning tripping !
we talk of elections cause of constitutional right.First it is the post that is vacant not an individual, much responsibility as far as elections are concerned is given to MEC not as individuals and these individuals have to prove great responsibility even in integrity. It was MEC that failed cause if it never did fail the sentiments would have been different. BOTTOM LINE MEC FAILED I REST MY CASE.
It is like Adam blaming Eve yet he was supposed to say,’God said we should not eat of this tree.’ ADAM FAILED NO NEED TO BLAME EVE.
This is funny! Malawi can steep so low as this. Why allowing an educated Member of Parliament, the likes of Lillian Patel who even does not have an MSCE to assess doctors and Masters Degree holders. If we have to be realistic, who is supposed to assess who in this case? The Simbi United Judges, why couldn’t you include in your judgement that Parliamentarians should also discuss and pass a bill that recruits MPs who are holders of first degree so that crucial issues such as these should be handled by people of understanding. I cry for my beloved Malawi.… Read more »
When DPP wins the coming presidential elections, our Dad should abolish the Judiciary, ACB, ban Zodiak and banish all journalists except theMBC disband the HRDC and the MDF (replace it with DPP cadets) relocate Presidential palace to Ntata Farm. This will create true democracy and Dad’s DPP will rule Southern Malawi forever.