The High Court of Malawi has completed hearing a petition by two independent candidates in Blantyre City South Lunzu Constituency challenging the victory of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Veronica Ndalama.
The petitioners—Rashid Gaffar and Alex Chimwala—through their lawyer Michael Goba-Chipeta yesterday told the court that Ndalama influenced voters by distributing cash handouts to registered voters.
The duo also argued that Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) failed its duty to determine their complaint and alleged that instead of addressing their petition, the electoral body referred the matter to the Registrar of Political Parties whom they believe has no powers to rectify irregularities or issues to do with elections.
Said Chipeta: “Ultimately, we are saying that these two issues materially affected the outcome of the elections. Therefore, we pray that the court should order the nullification and setting aside the election for Blantyre City South Lunzu Constituency and the declaration of Veronica Ndalama as the returned candidate made by the Malawi Electoral Commission on 30th September 2025, on account of undue election and undue return.”
But in her submission, Ndalama through her lawyer Fred Chipembere said the petition was incompetent because it was filed before MEC declared her a winner.
He said under Section 100 of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, a petition must be an appeal against MEC’s decision, which was not the case with the matter at hand.
In its submission, MEC through private practice lawyer Emmanuel Chapo questioned the jurisdiction of the High Court’s civil registry handling the matter.
He argued that any case related to corruption is criminal and that for the current court to nullify the election results there must be proof of conviction, among others.
Presiding judge Allan Muhome has set November 11 as judgement day on the petition.
The case is among about 83 post-election disputes the Judiciary received following declaration of results in the September 16 2025 General Election.
