LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s newly established Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is appealing to Chief Justice (CJ) Andrew Nyirenda to reject Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) hired South African lawyers (Mboweni Maluleke Inc Attorneys) to help in the elections appeal case .
Embattled MEC chairperson Justice Jane Ansah confirmed hiring the lawyers.
According to documents sourced the South African lawyers will be paid US$788,500 (over MK500 million).
MEC’s action contravenes Malawi laws on public office procurement that demands open tender.
This has has pained CDEDI to even begin to question as to how this decision was arrived at bearing in mind that Malawi has the best and excellent lawyers that can compete favorably on the international scene.
In a press statement made available to Maravi Post on Thursday, March 12, 2020, the grouping’s interim Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa smells some fishy business in the way this matter has been conducted.
“Therefore we also asking the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director Reynek Matemba to swiftly move in and investigate the matter,’ urges Namiwa.
Below is CDEDI press statement:
MEC SPARE US THIS DRAMA
The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has learnt with shock reports that the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has hired South African based lawyers Mboweni Maluleke Inc Attorneys purportedly to help in the elections case.
Most shocking being a revelation that government through the office of Attorney General is footing the costs including accommodation.
CDEDI is at pains to even begin to question as to how this decision was arrived at bearing in mind that Malawi has the best and excellent lawyers that can compete favorably on the international scene!
It is even more disheartening to note that the infamous decision is pegged at MK 600 million when ordinary people in villages especially in Thyolo, Mulanje and Phalombe are surviving on pumpkin leaves and wild tubers due to the biting hunger.
Most of the health facilities have run out of essential drugs. In the interest of transparency and accountability, CDEDI and indeed wellmeaning Malawians, would like know whether the MEC Chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah and the rest of the commissioners discussed and indeed agreed on this highly insensitive and discriminatory decision.
CDEDI observes that MEC plays a role of a referee like in the game of football, their role is to facilitate citizen’s rights to elect leaders of their choice, now it is mind boggling to see a referee who ought to be neutral leading in protesting a goal!
In whose interest is MEC doing all this? Did the electoral body enter into an electoral alliance with any of the contestants of the May 21, 2019 polls?
After all is said and done one wonders as to how would the ordinary people who are both voters and taxpayers going to benefit from the huge sums to be splashed out as legal fees and upkeep?
CDEDI is of the view that MEC should just register as apolitical party and contest the forthcoming May 19, 2020 fresh elections instead of operating behind the scene while serving partisan interests of a group of people that are bent at doing anything in their quest to cling to power.
We, at CDEDI would like to remind those behind this questionable decision that MEC is a constitutional institution that was established under section 75 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, the Supreme law of the land.
It is, therefore, expected to work on behalf of all Malawians. Meanwhile, CDEDI is demanding MEC Chairperson Dr. Jane Asha to immediately rescind her decision.
Secondly, CDEDI is appealing to Chief Justice (CJ) Andrew Nyirenda to reject the said lawyers’ application for admission to practice in specific cause unless if he is convinced that Malawi does not have the lawyers good enough to handle this matter.
Thirdly, CDEDI smells some fishy business in the way this matter has been conduct, we therefore ask the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director Reynek Matemba to swiftly move in and investigate the matter.
Lastly, we would like to appeal to our leaders elected or otherwise to be sensitive to the challenges facing the country before making any decision.
CDEDI is also reminding them to be patriotic and take cognizant of the fact that decisions that are made today will have an impact on the future generations to come.
BACKGROUND
CDEDI is a non partisan, nongovernmental organization that was established in a quest to attain a well-informed and organized citizenry that can ably demand their social and economic rights at the same time hold duty bearers accountable for their actions.
Among many others CDEDI aims at sensitizing the masses on matters of national importance, inculcate the spirit of a peaceful coexistence among people of different ethnic, political and religious affiliations; provide civic education on people’s rights and responsibilities in economic independence and contribution towards national development and lobbying for the electoral law reforms.
SIGNED By SYLVESTER NAMIWA CDEDI INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
