The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – whose leader Prof. Peter Mutharika has a slight lead in unofficial exit polls – on Sunday evening agreed to a ballot recount in some areas after a heated meeting between the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and political parties who took part in last week’s tripartite elections. . DPP […]
There is a notion which as I gather has been endorsed by the High Court to the effect that the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has no power/mandate/competence to order and undertake a “recount of the votes”. Below I advance the view that this notion is wholly misinformed; based on a deliberate circumvention of clear legal […]
High Court Judge Healey Potani has ruled that Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has no powers to call for a recount of the votes before initial counting has ended. According to the ruling delivered by Justice Potani after Friday Jumbe president of New Labor Party sought court relief, the judge said only the court has powers […]
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) on Sunday lodged to High Court a challenge against an injunction obtained by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – the forerunner in last week’s poll –restraining the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) from embarking on a ballot re-count over fraud concerns. Over a dozen of lawyers stormed Lilongwe High Court to challenge Justice […]
The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has urged all political leaders to call on their supporters to refrain from any violence or disruption of the electoral process, whose successful completion is essential for the consolidation of democracy in the country. In a statement Moon has commended the people of Malawi for turning out […]
Malawi opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – the forerunner in last week’s poll – has obtained a court injunction restraining the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) from embarking on a ballot re-count over fraud concerns. DPP through lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale sought a court order on Sunday which was granted by newly appointed Judge Lloyd Muhara – […]
One of Malawi’s leading human rights non-governmental organisation Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has hailed Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) recent decision to conduct a manual recount of ballot papers in last week’s presidential, parliamentary and local elections. The watchdog said the decision is justified considering the prevailing serious irregularities that have marred the […]
Before the Malawi Electoral Commission ( MEC) proceeds to conducting a physical recount, it needs to restore the integrity of the counting process itself. This cannot be achieved unless the reasons leading to the suspension and the recount are first determined and fully addressed. After all an illness cannot be treated unless the disease is […]
The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (CEDEP) have followed with keen interest events surrounding the tripartite elections vote count process as well as misgivings from various stakeholders, including some contestants. It’s on record that even Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has admitted to some of the hiccups dogging […]
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) citing figures from the party’s tally centre, claimed on Saturday that its presidential candidate Lazarus Chakwera was the winner in the May 20 presidential elections as opposed to earlier unofficial media reports and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) preliminary results indicating Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president Peter Mutharika, MCP made the claims […]
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said on Saturday that it was against a move take by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to have a vote-by-vote recount in the May 20 Tripartite Elections to resolve glaring irregularities that have been discovered during tallying. MEC Commissioner Emmanuel Chinkwita Phiri told a news conference on Saturday that the commission has […]
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it will conduct a re-counting of ballots in presidential election amid claims of fraud. The commission late on Saturday said it had suspended announcing results and ordered a physical re-count, with commissioner Rev Emmanuel Chimkwita Phiri saying the number of ballots counted exceeded the number of voters registered. The announcement […]
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on Saturday scored a quick victory against President Joyce Banda when the electoral body obtained a court order quashing the President’s earlier decision to annul this week’s presidential elections and calls for new vote within 90 days. Banda on Saturday claimed there were “serious irregularities” with the poll including multiple voting, […]
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Peter Mutharika who has been tipped to win the presidential race with a narrow margin according to unofficial results has dismissed the decree by President Joyce Banda to nullify the elections. Banda said at a news conference on Saturday that she is annulling this week’s general election – in […]
United Democratic Front (UDF) president, Atupele Muluzi said Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has created a Constitutional crisis for failing to address irregularities and challenges facing the electoral process but has called for a united front to ensure peaceful transition. Atupele has since called on the main presidential candidates, especially DPP’s Peter Mutharika and MCP’s Lazarus […]
Malawi law experts have dismissed as inconsequential President Joyce Banda statement on Saturday that she was annulling the country’s presidential election because of “irregularities” and ordered a fresh vote in 90 days. University of Malawi’s Constitutional Law expert, Edge Kanyongolo, said the Malawian president has no power to order a fresh election and nullify the […]
There is high tension with reports of riots in Malawi’s commercial capital Blantyre’s Limbe township over declartions by President Joyce Banda on Saturday that this week’s chaotic election be nullified and called for a fresh vote. Nyasa Times correspondents report that anger at delays in official results announcing boiled over, and the declaration of election […]
President Joyce Banda has said using powers vested in her in the constitution has declare this week’s chaotic election “null and void,” and called for an immediate stop of counting of votes in the presidential race, citing grave irregularities. She cited “serious irregularities” with the poll, saying people had voted multiple times, ballots had been […]