D
emocratic Progressive Party (DPP) calls for the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson, Judge Anabel Mtalimanja, alleging that she is connected to the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
This reminds me of the tale of embattled former Anti-Corruption Bureau chief Martha Chizuma.
DPP vehemently fought against Chizuma’s ascendancy, insinuating that she whipped some of its youth cadets when she was the ombudsman.
Months later, the opposition party was rejoicing when Chizuma launched a manhunt on allegedly corrupt Cabinet ministers, State House officials and other ruling party elites.
Looking at the MEC chairperson’s integrity, discipline and sober-mindedness, the opposition and Malawians are likely to rejoice if she handles the 2025 General Elections with fairness and impartiality.
The DPP leaders’ faulty reasoning has the potential to set a precedence that may unfairly exclude some children from public appointments based on political propaganda, not proven grounds.
For years, Malawians have known the MEC chief as Annabel Phoya, a daughter of Professor Richard Phoya who retired from Bunda College of Agriculture, now Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (Luanar). The professor emeritus was later appointed as Malawi’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe.
Her mother, Dr Anne Phoya, worked for 38 years with the Malawi Public Health Services, holding positions ranging from nursing and midwifery to education, regulation, management, and policymaking. She has extensive experience in safe motherhood affairs.
The two distinguished Malawians had three children, Justice Annabel, paediatric doctor Frank and the late Duncan, who was killed in a road accident.
Annabel, the firstborn in the family, holds a bachelor of laws degree from the University of Malawi obtained 25 years ago and a master of laws degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia, in 2005.
Besides, she is a fellow of London’s Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
The MEC chairperson was appointed the High Court Judge 11 years ago.
Before joining the judiciary, she worked with the Ministry of Justice.
She has keen interest in criminal law, law of succession, alternative dispute resolution and drafting.
The High Court judge is an accredited and skilled mediator with vast experience in resolving commercial and family disputes.
She is married to Kondwani Mtalimanja, a highly motivated technology transformation professional with over 20 years’ experience in non-governmental organisations and finance.
Her husband works with Save the Children as an adviser to the regional and country directors in East and Southern Africa.
His work supports technology initiatives that aid and enhance their work.
This is just a glimpse of the MEC chairperson’s rich background.
With such an enviable footprint, it is unfair to connect this honourable lady to political innuendoes and tantrums.
This is a lady of distinction who piously pursues justice to its core and has tried to live a life of integrity.
Her accusers and doubters may need to be reminded that DPP founding leader, the late Bingu wa Mutharika, saw it fit to appoint her father to the diplomatic mission in Harare, Zimbabwe.
It is sad that today some remnants of the party are peddling misinformation to tarnish the good name of the MEC chairperson.
Instead of attacking noble public servants, opposition politicians should revert to issue-based politics and start telling people how they are going to address the pain points faced by Malawians.
They should remember that they are part of the solution in the quest for credible, free and fair elections.
Yes, we ought to have a satisfactory voters’ registration exercise, which should not leave any legible voter behind.
Indeed, there is a High Court ruling for MEC and the National Registration Bureau to ensure every eligible voter is registered to vote on September 16 2024.
These are issues that we need to be discussing. Instead of spreading misinformation and attacking the MEC chairperson, the opposition should help find solutions to these sticky points.
