Analyst faults govt on commissioner replacement

A political analyst has faulted government for failing to replace commissioner Dr Bertha Simwaka at the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), arguing the commission needs all commissioners to be serving the interests of the electorate as the country approach 2014 Tripartite Elections.

But a political analyst Mustafa Hussein said in an interview yesterday that Malawi is at a critical stage where every commissioner’s contribution would be required at MEC.

“Next year, Malawi is going to have tripartite elections and there should be no vacancies at MEC. We don’t want people to hear that elections were not handled well because of [lack of] capacity,” said Hussein.

Simwaka, who resigned in August this year as MEC commissioner, was nominated by Malawi Forum for Unity and Development (Mafunde).

Mafunde president George Nnensa said they already submitted names to the President for consideration.

“Before Dr Simwaka’s appointment, we sent four names to the President to consider. With her (Simwaka’s) departure, she will have to choose from the three remaining names,” said Nnensa who could not reveal the names.

MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said the issue is with the appointing authority (President). He, however, said the commission is functioning legally as it has more than the minimum of six commissioners as per legal requirements.

Section 75 of the Constitution says: “There shall be an Electoral Commission which shall consist of the Chairman who shall be a judge nominated in the behalf by the Judicial Service Commission and such other members not being less than six.”

Government spokesperson Brown Mpinganjira said he needs to check on Simwaka’s replacement.