Witness concedes MCP’s parallel tally centers had different presidential results

October 10, 2019 Chancy Namadzunda -Nyasa Times 42 Comments

One of the key witnesses for  Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential hopeful Lazarus Chakwera, a data entry supervisor during the May 21 Tripartite Elections Peter Lackson Chimangeni on Thursday conceded that the party’s two parallel tally centers may have different presidential results which were not brought before the Constitutional Court.

Chakwera (L) arives at the court as his third witness Lackson takes to the witness stand
One of MCP’s lawyers Titus Mvalo at the court

Chakwera, who came second in the presidential race, claims through the witness who prefers to be called Peter Lackson, that he polled 1 955 901 votes against Mutharika’s 1 873 689, according to the party’s parallel national tally centre.

But  during cross-examination from Attorney General (AG) Kalekeni Kaphale, who is representing MEC in the presidential election petition case, Lackson told the court that no parallel tally center the party had brought a comprehensive tarbulation of the elections results down to both stream and polling level but rather used aggregated results at the polling stations.

In his sworn statement at Constitutional Court record, Lackson stated that they established a computer-based results management platform, which was designed to collect results throughout the country using software which would upload the results directly into their system in conjunction with phone calls and hand delivered results of Form 66C.

Asked by Kaphale why he did not want the court to see the different results from the two parallel tally centers, Lackson said “they were not important because they were not part of the pettition.”

He said the party used forms downloaded from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)  website and some results which were provided by the electoral body’s communications officer Sangwani Mwafulirwa for turbulation because MCP monitors were denied access to Form 66Cs.

As the one way of cross-checking, the party had to call some monitors to confirm the results.

However, Lackson told the court that he did not brought a list of monitors who were denied access to Form 66Cs and their centers.

In his sworn statement, the witness claims the irregularities affected more than 1 520 427 votes cast, which he says is 30 percent of the total vote cast.

“Based on the magnitude of the votes affected by the irregularities, there is material evidence that the determination of presidential elections is neither credible nor done in accordance with the established procedures set out under the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act (PPEA),” Lackson claims.

According to results released by MEC, second respondent in the case, President Peter Mutharika, who is the first respondent in the case, won the race by 1 940 709 votes, trailed by Chakwera with 1 781 740 votes—a difference of 158 969 votes.

The electoral body placed UTM Party president Saulos Chilima on third position, with 1 018 369 votes—a margin of 6 225 lower votes going by what MCP is claiming in court using their parallel national tally centre.

Chakwera, who is second petitioner in the case, is alongside Chilima (first petitioner), challenging the re-election of President  Mutharika, alleging that the presidential results in May were marred by irregularities and fraud.

The MCP presidential hopeful is  asking the Constitutional Court to direct MEC to organise and conduct a fresh Presidential Election in strict conformity with the Constitution and Presidential and Parliamentray Elections Act.

Chakwera claims, in his sworn statement, that MEC accepted the use of results tally sheets defaced with Tippex as a record for the polled votes, in place of original results tally sheets with no Tippex on them, without any plausible justification.

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42 replies on “Witness concedes MCP’s parallel tally centers had different presidential results”

  1. Koma timva mbwelera Chaka Chino. How can someone who claims to be a witness and had tabulated results of a parallel tallycentre fail to bring them to court as part of his evidence? Lackson is invalidating his own testimony by saying that the results were not important and that was the reason he did not bring them to court. Does he think that the court can make judgement based on hearsay? He is more of a joker than a witness.

  2. This boy called sangwani should be watched. One day he shall suprise us. Very smart and professional. He meanders out of controversy very smartly. All opposition witnesses are mentioning him but not in negative way

  3. MWAONA KUMENE KUKUPITA ZINTHU? A MCP MBWERERA ZOKHAZOKHA ZA MBONI KOMA IYI WAILESI IYI IYI ZBS IYI TAMBALA WA KUDA KWAMBIRI, ZOONA A BUJU MMAMAWA UJA MUNGA WAFUNSE A LEADER A MCP MUKUGANIZA KUTI ANGAKAMBE CHIYANI CHABWINO CHA BOMA, KUTSUTSA BASI NGATI TIMES WAYILESI ZAMANYAZI ABUJU MWASULUKATU ABUJU TSOKA NDILO A BOMA OSAFUNSA AYI KOMA IYIY WAILESI IYI, MUFUNA MUKHALE NGATI MBC ETI? KOMA IYI WAILESI IYI, SHAME ZOONA AGOSPEL MUMALILA ZIMENEZO? KNOW THAT A BOMANSO AMAKONDA ZBS KOMA ZOMWE MWAYAMBAZI, DONT BE LIKE ANOTHER MBC OR TIES, WE KNOW KUTI A MARIA ANKAKANA MULTIPARTY IN 1992 WHEN SHE WAS AT MBC NO WANDER SHE WENT TO SAAFTER PEPO CHOSE DEMOCRACY SO SHE IS FIGHTING FOR TAMBALA WAKUDA AT ZBS, IYI WAILESI IYI SHAME,
    ON PILITICAL MAHULE WE HAVE ALOT IN MALAWI,
    1-GWENGWE-MCP TO PP BACK FO MCO
    2CHANGE GOLO UDF, DPP, MARAVI, PP BACK TO DPP
    3ULEMU CHILAPONDWA-MCP.DPP BACK TO MCO
    MMWENYE MIA WERSE,UDF, DPP, PP, ATAKANIKA KUWASANKHA PA RUNNING MATE BIG GOLD DIGGER, KOMA MAYILESI SANGANENE KALIKONSE SHAME ON UUUUuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
    I WILL CONTINUE MAWA

  4. So, MCP does not have evidence of rigging and yet with the help of Chilima and HRDC you have caused mayhem and destroyed a lot in this country. Kugwa nayo poyera-yera. Chakwera mdi Chilima.

  6. The word “concedes” in the article is misleading. The author should have just used the term like “agrees”. If there were irregularities for sure the figures have to be different.

  7. Chomwe ndikuona apa nchoti, this is complete downfall of the following people: Chilima, Chakwera, Mia, Manganya, the Kaliatis, Bon Kalindo, and Calister Chapola Chimombo, Who will dare employing these bustards?? What kind of business can they do in Malawi? Just accept it that this is your end. The same happened to the likes of Chakuamba, and the former speaker from Ntcheu Sam Mpaso who died miserably. Believe you me.

  9. I have noticed that many DPP supporters who writes or comment on here are fools at times I think they are not educated, they lucky understanding of things. Proper judgement with neutral mind.
    Mungosangalala za ziiiii kuti luckson chimangeni is comfused ,he’s not.

    Kodi boma limawina mulandu ku court? Lidayamba lawinako? You know the truth kuti elections were rigged. Thats so as Malawians what can we do to prevent corruption at all levels. From road traffic to immigration
    From waterboard to escom.
    From admarc to MRA .. zilipo the source are politicians and rich people. Poor people whether DPP MCP UTM UDF we’re the ones to suffer.. let’s end this and make sure justice has been done. In hospitals we don’t have medicine because government ili ndi ngongole ndi CMS.
    As a medical practitioner, mundinvetsa chisoni.
    Let’s love Malawi osati zipani.

    KONDANI DZIKO LANU, OSATI CHIPANI CHIGAWO OLO MTUNDU

  10. This witness is a big failure. You donot have to show the court your arrogance. You pretend groomed courtesy. You cannot rudely be saying “because it was not important for all most all questions. Have you noticed how KK respects the court despite teaching 3 of those judges….You have messed up your testimony, remember first impression matters.I blame your lawyers they should have cautioned him on court diplomacy….Its like you are fighting KK

    2. I agree with you 100%. The witness has not helped MCP in the case, if I were MCP lawyer I would immediately withdraw chimangeni. Even the most biased judge would have problems to rule for a re-run. This guy does not have facts and to say the least he is stupid.

  13. I don’t see anything convincing enough for a rerun. I was expecting better evidence from the opposition sode. Feeling letdown right now sob sob

  14. Chalaka Chilima ndi Chakwera ndi ma witness onse a mbuyomu awa a Lackson sangatole. Sadziwa mmene ma results amapangidwira tabulate. Lero ndi awa avomera kulephera kwawo.

  15. Yes ngati Kaphale wapempha khoti kuti akhale pansi ndi bp yimeneyo sizilibwino, Akulu awa nawonso akumapita mumisonkhano kuti iwo adapambana chikhalileco nkhaniyo yirikukhoti mavuto awa akuwaputa

  17. If there is rerun many will not vote. Only party diehards will vote in a rerun. And my guess is the party which has more diehards will win again. Some of us are done voting this year.

  20. A missed chance to prove rigging.You could have brought your parallel tally results yo prove that you won and Peter stole your vote.

      1. But MCP is the one complaining which means they have a case to prove and those sheets would have helped them

  21. Lackson wationetsa mwamvemvemve momwe APM anabera chisankho. Zikomo kwambiri Lackson, nicer katswiri.

  22. Bravo Lackson. The 2 different results were not part of the petition hence no reason for the Cocourt to see them. I wonder when Kaphale will bring the original result sheets, the audit report and proof on how 147 complains were resolved. These are what he was petitioned to bring to court. He asked for 10 days to bring the audit report and he thinks the judges forgot about that because they are not reminding him.

    2. So you are cerebrating the confused MCP Different tally results? the guy was cornered and was failing to defend his statements, up to an extent that high the judges had to intervene to make him understand the questions during cross examination

      1. The prevailing political malady doesnt present a good environment for rerun..I can forsee an election which is not free and fair. DPP monitors will be assaulted in Central region and likewise MCP monitors in Southern region. Voter aparthy shall be the order of the day.The rerun would be worse than the past election…The results will not be accepted by all parties.

    5. A Fred Rocks nkhani kumaitsata. Chotsaniko ka umbuliko pangóno. Umbuli mwaonetsa apawu. Palibe re-run apa This Lackson is really lucking something. This is mere wishful thinking. Children are really small.

      1. Akuonetsa umbuli ndiweyo can’t you see by yourself.What sort of evidence do you want now?Was fake forms part of the MEC?Did make make supplied fake materials?Koma umbuli unawu kkkkkkk

    6. Kkkk muziwa chan a Fred inu. Musatisekesepo APA kkkk. Komabe thus a nice comment tasekapo thanks. Muzitumiza zopanda mutuzo phwete ndilofunikanso.

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