Mia still ponders on Maulidi defamation prosecution
Lawyers for business tycoon, Mohammad Sidik Mia said are waiting for a go-ahead to proceed with lawsuit against Peoples Party (PP) acting secretary general, Paul Maulidi who accused the retired politician of allegedly bribing voters at a polling centre in Chikwawa Mkombedzi during the May 20th elections.
Maulidi told local radio stations that Mia was seen giving out money to voters to elect his cousin, Haroon Mia contesting as independent Parliamentary candidate and UDF presidential candidate Atupele Muluzi.
But lawyer Kalekeni Kaphale disclosed that was waiting for a go-ahead from his client on whether to proceed with the defamation case.
Last month before the elections Mia argued: “I have been MP for Chikhwawa Mkombedzi from 2004 and contested in elections. I understand the electoral laws that you cannot canvass when campaign closes. There is no way I would be enticing voters outside campaign time that is absolutely not true.”
“I want to seek court relief on defamation I have suffered from Maulidi. I am instructing my lawyers to commence proceedings.”
Local media verified that Mia never gave money to any voter at the time he turned up to cast his vote. Mia is former Peoples Party (PP) vice president for the south who quit the party some months ago.
Maulidi during Malawi electoral Commission (Mec) press conference at the National Tally Centre claimed that Mia was found giving out handoutsto his supporters at one of the polling centres in Chikhwawa, which is against the electoral law.
He then asked Mec to take up necessary action against the former Minister on the matter. However, Mec Chairperson Maxon Mbendera referred Mauldi to police, saying it was responsible body to act on that matter.
But when quizzed on the allegations, Maulidi argued that what he told Mec was what PP supporters witnessed on the ground.
