Wakuda cleared to contest as MP
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has cleared presidential adviser on political and communication affairs Elias Wakuda Kamanga to contest as a Member of Parliament (MP) in Kasungu North East Constituency in the May 20 Tripartite Elections.
Earlier MEC said Kamanga was barred after the electoral body had applied a second legal opinion to disqualify Kamanga who, alongside other presidential aides—the Reverend Macdonald Sembereka and Reverend Malani Mtonga, were given the go-ahead by MEC to contest.
Sembereka is vying for the Mangochi Central Constituency seat while Mtonga is contesting in the Karonga South Constituency. The trio are seeking election on governing People’s Party (PP) ticket.
Chief Elections Officer Willie Kalonga said they made a decision to withdraw the disqualification “based on the fact that we received documentation from the candidates in question to the effect that they resigned their posts.”
Legal experts argue that presidential advisers are public servants; hence, can only stand after resigning.
