MCP candidate takes MEC to court over by-election postponement
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) parliamentary candidate for November 5 parliamentary by-election in Lilongwe South Constituency has reacted angrily to the postponement of the polls in the area, saying he will take legal action against the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
MEC says it has postponed the by-election to safeguard people’s lives and property after violence which led to destruction of four houses and targeted the pollster’s commissioners and staff, among others.
But Peter Dimba, the immediate past member of parliament for the area, described the reasons put forward by MEC as lame excuses.
“They will now stop taking people for granted. I will take them to court. This is nonsense,” said Dimba.
There has been no immediate reaction from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Frank Mazizi.
There have been a spate of violence in the pre-election campaign mainly between supporters of MCP and DPP, the main contenders in the race and MEC officials have been caught in the cross fire.
UTM has pulled out of the parliamentary race in the area, citing credibility reasons of MEC after the highly disputed May 21 elections which the party and the MCP are now challenging in court.
Police have since arrested 16 suspects in connection with the violence which, according to DPP officials, left 13 houses torched.
There have been pockets of violence in the area, especially at Ndaula Trading Centre in Traditional Authority Masumbankhunda.
The by-election in the constituency follows suspension of voting during the May 21 Tripartite Elections following the death of a UTM Party candidate Agness Penemulungu two weeks to the polls.
During the launch of the by-elections, MEC officials also had a rude awakening in the constituency when voters questioned the electoral body’s credibility to hold by-elections amid controversy surrounding the handling of the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.
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Dimba ndioipa mtima kwambiri alape kaye machimo,
We need Malawi to be ruled by a council of chiefs not presidency
Wanyanayo wakumana nawo azako ochenjera mudzibweza choncho katundu wa anthu mumkaba uja.
Seems this party has no direction. In the first place they said they were not going to participate in the by elections and they come back to say nthey will partici[ate under protest. All along MCP had wanted to disturb these elections and it is nopt surpring
Bwana DIMBA, blame it on Chakwera and his blood shedding doctrine. If you are a court addic, like Chakwera, please sue Chakwera, the father and founder of blood shedding in Malawi.
DPP deliberately wanted the election because they expected all opposition to boycott the election and that would give them an obvious victory. Unfortunately MCP didn’t boycott the election but declared they will participate under protest thereby denying dpp an easy win in an impossible area. If all opposition parties had boycotted the election dpp would have brought in army and the blue eyed police to provide security. We have leant to read dpp tactics with ease these days.
Bambo Kachenga – maganiza a Nyawu eti………..you must read the above article carefully
Izi ndiye ziti izi. If you are married, do you really make sound judgements or your wife does it for you.
Alufandika and Mathanga are badly wanted in the area……………………………..!! May you please go as soon as possible kuti akakuphunzitseniko kuthamangaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!! Makamaka mlangizi wa Jane yo Mathamangayoooooooooooooo…………………Lilongwe ikunitsitsa ikamuuze m’mene amanenela “NO” ndipo akati “NO” ndi…………………….”
Kkkkkkkkk am sure dimba’s personal interests have overtaken national interests. This is a big blow to him seems is only after the seat and money it will bring him such that he cannot afford to wait.
MEC was warned that the climate is not right to conduct elections
Timanena ife kuti MEC yapanoyi siingapangitse zitsankho zeni zeni…..mumakana….siizi tsopano…….they have no integrity and mchere wawo udatsukuluka kale kale…..siizi tsopano!!!! Pitilizanitu, muwonanso, akumangani tsopano….mwamuwonongetsa makobiditu!!
The bottom line is that the decision made was very good according to the situation on the ground