Transporter causes a stir at MEC

There was drama at the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) headquarters in Blantyre yesterday after an angry transporter blocked the entrance to force the electoral body to pay him his money.

Blantyre-based transporter, Anselm Kapanga, proprietor of Kapanga Investment, was demanding the money MEC owes him for the transportation services he offered during the May 20 Tripartite Elections.

MEC employees were visibly taken by surprise as they reported for work yesterday morning when their vehicles were denied entry into the compound because of Kapanga’s truck that had obstructed the entrance.

The dark blue and white 17-tonner van was parked diagonally just outside the main entrance, thereby blocking all vehicles from going in and outside the MEC compound.

On his vehicle, registration KA 5753, enraged Kapanga pasted a notice written on an A4 paper which read: “MEC must pay today.”

MEC was forced to park some of its Nissan Patrol vehicles at Mwaiwathu Private Hospital parking area.

In a telephone interview, Kapanga told The Nation he would not remove his vehicle until the electoral body paid him or made a serious commitment to settle the debt.

While refusing to disclose the actual amount, Kapanga said his company is owed more than K1 million.

MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said in an interview he needed more time to comment on the matter.