TA cautions MEC on by-elections, road to 2019
Political pressure group Transformation Alliance (TA) has appealed to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to fast-track the consultations that will give some light on the way forward in Lilongwe City South East constituency so that the constituents can have a representative in Parliament.
The alliance has also called on MEC to seriously reflect on the ‘highly questionable’ 2014 elections and engage democratic interventions through the on-going electoral law reforms so that the country can achieve free and fair elections in 2019.
According to a letter the alliance has written MEC chairperson Jane Ansah, which Weekend Nation has seen, TA said the court’s final determination on the Lilongwe City South East constituency parliamentary poll runs in sharp contrast with “over-amplified and exaggerated praises on the fairness of the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections by MEC and different observers.
“The current scenario reveals serious undemocratic glaring gaps on elections management from preparation until the commission makes its final declaration on the ultimate winners. This sets a really tough assignment for the commission ahead of the 2019 elections.
Early this month, the Supreme Court ordered MEC to conduct a re-run of the disputed parliamentary election in Lilongwe City South East. In May 2014, MEC declared Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Bentry Namasasu winner with 10 956 votes against 10 854 votes for Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Ulemu Msungama.
The Supreme Court decision for a re-run upheld a ruling of the High Court which stated that the anomalies noted in the election could only be resolved through a re-run after a recount failed when a mysterious fire destroyed poll materials in a MEC warehouse in Lilongwe in 2014.
