Chimulirenji tenure ends as Malawi’s VP if ConCourt court nullifies May 21 polls
BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-With so much being said on what will happen after the ruling of the Constitutional court on February 3, 2020 on the elections case, many people are still curious on the fate of the Vice president, Everton Chimulilenji.
Commenting on the matter, the renowned legal expert Justin Dzonzi on Saturday stated the two possible outcomes that people should expect from High court on Monday.
Dzonzi said that court will rule whether the elections were held in accordance with law in a free, fair and credible manner or not.
In passing the verdict, court is expected to base the judgement on the constitution, parliamentary and presidential elections act, electoral commission act, and other laws used across the world is settling such matters.
According to the petitioners in this case; UTM Party’s Saulos Chilima (the first petitioner) and Malawi Congress Party candidate Lazarus Chakwera (the second petitioner), the case that was presented before court centered on several irregularities, especially in the results management system that took place during May 21, 2019 elections.
Using the evidence presented before court from both the petitioners and the respondents; incumbent President Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party, who was declared winner of the elections and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), court will rule whether the elections were held in accordance with law or not.
“According to section 100 of parliamentary and presidential elections act, court can nullify the elections if anyone who took part in the election is not satisfied with the results of the elections and there is enough evidence supporting the claim.
“If court nullifies the elections, people should expect either a rerun or fresh elections. In an event that fresh elections are called, the current president is expected to remain in office until a new president is Inaugurated.The office of the vice president however in case of fresh elections is supposed to be occupied by the former Vice president, SKC according to 2014 election results while Chimulirenji’s tenure will come to an end ,” Dzonzi said.
Dzonzi also stated that if respondents in the case are to win the case, people should expect the incumbent president together with his vice president, Chimulilenji to continue their tenure until next elections in 2024. If such the case, the petitioners are at liberty to appeal to supreme court if they are not satisfied with the ruling and it is up to the supreme court to decide what should happen next.
Meanwhile, five ConCourt judges land Saturday afternoon at military wing base in the capital Lilongwe from Nkhatabay Via Mzuzu where were concluding case’s paper work.
Wishful thinking. The ConCourt will not n7llify the electoral results. Zeze Arafat remains in opposition till he fails again in 2024.