Kabwila, Chisi cases delay ballot paper printing
Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) says is waiting for the High Court ruling on cases filed by two of opposition members, Umodzi Party (UP) president Professor John Chisi and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Publicity Secretary, Jessie Kabwira before printing ballot papers for the May 20th Tripartite Elections.
Mec disqualified Chisi and Kabwira from contesting in the Presidential and Parliamentary elections respectively for failing to resign from civil service as University of Malawi (Unima) lecturers.
The two separately dragged Mec to court disputing its decision to disqualify them from the race, arguing they were granted Leave of Absence, and the High Court is yet to make its determination on the matter.
One of the Mec Commissioners, Nancy Tembo disclosed that the Electoral body has not yet started the ballot papers printing exercise due to the court cases.
“The ballot papers are not printed and the templates are not yet done. As we you are aware some of the people disqualified took the matter to court, and we cannot proceed printing the ballot papers until the court makes its ruling,” Tembo said.
Tembo was reacting to fears of possible vote rigging.
She dismissed the rigging fears, saying it was not possible to rig elections when actually the ballot papers are not printed.
Meanwhile, the High Court in Blantyre is yet to make its determination on the two lawsuits Chis and Kabwira filed.
Kabwila was a lecturer at Chancellor College while Chisi lectured at College of Medicine both are constituents of Unima.
