There is a saying in these parts of the world that often ring true in many ways than one. Here in Africa, we don’t speak while eating. Well, for one, it’s the saying that excuses those benefiting from corrupt regimes from pointing any fingers at the corruption. It’s the maxim for sycophants and handclappers, as…
Golden Matonga
Hands off poll results—MCP
The much anticipated Constitutional Court hearing on the disputed May 21 2019 Presidential Election yesterday began with a sensational allegation by lawyers of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) that Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials are still altering results of the elections. Scores people gathered at the Lilongwe High Court premises yesterday for the scheduling conference for…
K340m feared stolen at Reserve Bank
Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) in partnership with other agencies has launched an investigation into the missing of K340 million feared to have been stolen by one of the central bank’s managers. RBM spokesperson Mbane Ngwira confirmed in a written response on Thursday that the central bank’s manager (fiscal operations) Charles Mchakulu is under investigation.…
Chilima alleges Ansah’s favoured Mutharika in May 21 elections
The country’s immediate past vice-president Saulos Chilima has alleged that Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah favoured President Peter Mutharika in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections to the disadvantage of his challengers. In a letter to Ansah dated June 7 2019, Chilima, who debuted on the presidential ballot on a UTM Party ticket…
Technology, youth and election monitoring
In the run-up to the May 21 Tripartite Elections, a group of Malawian youths sat inside a conference room at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre for one final briefing ahead of the elections. Young men and women, some just past their adolescence and new voters, were glued to their smartphones while a few were making…
Criminals for no crime
As my boss and Managing Editor once wrote, some column entries can be both national and personal. This one is for me. Born to a police officer, I am a proud product of the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and its traditions, through and through. And you can imagine, with the regularity that children of police…
Ansah must go–Chilima
UTM president Saulos Chilima has called for the immediate resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson, Jane Ansah. But Catholic University-based political scientist Nandin Patel, in an interview yesterday, asked for electoral stakeholders to first wait for court ruling on the election case results before condemning Ansah. “Look, let’s look at elections as a whole…
Election case goes to Constitutional Court
The consolidated case Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera and his UTM counterpart Saulos Chilima have filed against the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) at the High Court is a constitutional matter, Registrar of High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal Agnes Patemba said yesterday. She said Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda has certified the electoral…
MCP outlines court case
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has cited “several rigging acts” by suspected agents of the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in the results management of the May 21 Tripartite Elections as having distorted results in DPP’s favour. In a case filed at the Lilongwe Registry of the High Court of Malawi by lawyer representing MCP, Titus…
A Tippex-ed election
Justice must be done, but must also be seen to be done. Just how many people think this year’s elections were professionally managed; hence the results are a true reflection of the people? Well, we know those who voted for President Peter Mutharika and his Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) are elated for once again trouncing…
Malawi at crossroads
Mutharika must fall —Chakwera Challenges poll results in court As President Peter Mutharika tried to rally the country around his leadership in Blantyre yesterday, his closest challenger Lazarus Chakwera was declaring that “Mutharika must fall”. Describing Mutharika as an illegitimate president, Chakwera said he and the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) are challenging the results in…
So, what happened?
By the time I wrote this, Jane Ansah was still grappling whether to name the country’s new president. This has been an election like no other. In its wake, it has shaken the political landscape to one barely believable. As I write, UTM, the new political kid which had transformed the political map, was not…
Waiting in vain amid tension, confusion
As the country continues to wait with bated breath for release of election results, majority of businesses in the Capital City, Lilongwe, were closed yesterday amid growing tension and fear of violence and confusion. Security was tight in the city with police manning checkpoints at various places, but no major flashpoint was reported. Meanwhile,…
Sadc calls for electoral reforms
A Sadc Election Observation Mission (Seom) preliminary report has said while Tuesday’s tripartite elections were professionally managed, it observed a number of electoral processes that need reforms. Addressing the media in Lilongwe at a joint briefing with the Comesa Election Observer Mission yesterday, alternate head of the Seom Kalombo Mwansa said both the campaign…
Big shots fall in parliamentary race
Unofficial results from the May 21 Tripartite Elections show that scores of serving legislators, including immediate past Cabinet ministers and high-ranking party officials, have been purged from the august House. Biggest casualties from the Tuesday vote include United Democratic Front (UDF) presidential candidate Atupele Muluzi who lost to independent candidate Alhaji Anjilu Kalitendere in…
Good luck, folks!
By the time you will read another entry on this column, we will have a new administration lording over Capital Hill, shaping policy, administering our taxes, handing out government jobs, contracts, and God knows, what else. The trouble with elections is, while they can guarantee the universal suffrage; guarantee the wishes of the people in…
2 PSs risk jail for contempt of court
Two serving principal secretaries (PSs) risk serving three years in jail or paying a fine if convicted of contempt of court should the court grant the Office of the Ombudsman its wish. Ombudsman Martha Chizuma wants the two PSs, one for Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development and the other for Ministry of…
A rat race
In few days time, your index finger will probably be draped in ink having voted for your preferred presidential candidate or party. But regardless of how vested you’re in this election; whether emotionally or financially, be advised that making life plans based on your calculations of who may win May 21 is foolish endeavour. Last…
Wait a minute….
Where do you start from in a week as intense as this past one? As the campaign season heats up, all the major presidential candidates have thrown to us enough material in their quest to woo the voter that ticking their names is the right thing to do on May 21. Some of the things…
A fine demolition job
Tanzanian President John Magufuli is a member of an elite club of leaders to visit the country under the Peter Mutharika presidency. So elite is the club that we don’t remember who else has visited us. Under the underwhelming Mutharika presidency, we’ve stopped punching above our weight, diplomatically, and acted as exactly as small, poor,…