Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) has called for a speedy and independent inquiry into the alleged attempt to bribe judges presiding over the disputed presidential election case. In a statement issued on January 14 2020, the CLA states in part: “Urges that a full and independent enquiry into the allegations of bribery of judges notes the…
1 public officer, another from private sector Matemba refuses to provide names With the nation’s eyes on the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the alleged judge bribery saga, the graft-busting agency’s director general Reyneck Matemba yesterday gave a description of the suspects but fell short of naming them. During a highly-anticipated news conference at ACB head…
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) says it is investigating complaints from Chief Justice Andrew Nyirenda and other stakeholders that some people are attempting to bribe the five-judge panel working on a judgement for the presidential elections nullification petition. In a WhatsApp response to an e-mailed questionnaire from The Nation yesterday, ACB director general Reyneck Matemba confirmed…
Letter to Brussels Greetings. By now, it must be clear that you have misjudged us. By now it must be very clear to you and those who have interest to learn, that as a country and a people, we are undergoing a great transformation. It might not be clear now, but there is an awakening…
The European Union Elections Observer Mission (EU-EOM) says it will publish its controversial final report on the country’s disputed presidential elections next month. The EU-EOM team, which was expected to release the report during its mission to the country at the invitation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), flew out yesterday after receiving heavy criticism from…
UTM Party president Saulos Chilima has refused to meet a European Union (EU) Election Observer Mission (EOM) and asked the team to delay presentation of its final report on the disputed May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections. The team is expected to issue a statement upon arrival in the country, according to officials from the EU…
There is a particularly irritating and irrational way our government responds to national issues while pushing for its own political agenda. If its law that has been broken, the State machinery lets everyone know that it doesn’t care a hoot about ensuring the rule of law, and that the law breakers, whether party cadets or…
What a year! In a few days, it will all come to an end. Let it that sink in, like all good things, all things, period! This year must come to an end. And maybe it must. What a year it has been for Justice Jane Ansah! She was right there, throughout the year. And,…
While government officials have turned their backs to the public and constantly lists a litany of excuses for failure to deliver their mandate, the office of the Ombudsman, under the able Martha Chizuma is different. Chizuma would arguably make many people’s list of personality of the year. It would be for a good reason. In…
The day of judgment in the historic presidential elections case is not known—it may be within the next 45 days, or more, or less—but come what may, it will come after the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) yesterday heard the last of all arguments by all parties to the case. Saulos Chilima and Lazarus Chakwera, the two…
Two friends of the court, Malawi Law Society (MLS) and Women Lawyers Association (WLA), have made their final submissions in the presidential elections nullification petition case, slightly differing on aspects such as who shoulders the burden of proof. While agreeing that the burden of proof rests with the petitioners, WLA differs with MLS as it…
Claim Chilima, Chakwera failed to prove case President Peter Mutharika and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) have denied suggestions that the presidential election results in the May 21 Tripartite Elections were marred by serious irregularities or rigged in favour of Mutharika. In their separate final written submissions to the High Court of Malawi sitting as the…
Watching the video of rains pouring into makeshift hospital wards at the country’s biggest referral hospital, Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH) on Thursday, was heartbreaking. There they were, sick mothers and children, some very sick, still strapped to hospital beds as the water flooded beneath and some folks filmed for the world to watch yet again…
The final submissions to the Constitutional Court by opposition presidential candidates challenging the re-election of President Peter Mutharika in May have laid a detailed case on how Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials and others allegedly manipulated the elections in direct contravention of the law. The submissions by first petitioner Saulos Chilima and second petitioner Lazarus…
The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) on Friday made a giant leap towards what is poised to be a historic ruling—with both parties in the case signalling confidence that their witnesses have done enough to sway the court. Lawyers for first petitioner Saulos Chilima and second petitioner Lazarus Chakwera, opted against cross- examining Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)…
Answers to what really happened before, during and after voting on May 21 this year appear to be getting closer, some 175 days after the Constitutional Court began hearing the first-ever presidential referral case. In a case that has no precedence in the country’s 25-year history as a democracy, a panel of five judges comprising…
Parties to the May 21 Tripartite Elections presidential poll results dispute are today set to make a final push to convince the High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court in Lilongwe to decide in their favour. To date, 174 days have passed since the proceedings started. In terms of actual hearing, today marks…
After the court case—when the question of who has the rightful mandate to govern us is answered—we must go back to the more important business of building our young new nation. Fifty-five years after independence, the excruciating poverty and sheer underdevelopment has to force a moment of reckoning; otherwise, as reminded by the sheer numbers…
The High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court in Lilongwe yesterday learnt that Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) presiding officer signed off result sheets in Mzuzu and Rumphi at the same time. The revelation came to light as lawyers for first petitioner and UTM Party presidential candidate Saulos Chilima started cross-examining Bob Chimkango, the…
Prominent Blantyre-based private practice lawyer Modecai Msisha yesterday pressed the first witness for President Peter Mutharika in the ongoing presidential elections nullification petition and submitted the witness failed to substantiate claims in his sworn statements. Ben Phiri, who is Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of elections,…
