Embattled Malawi Electoral body caught in contravening procurement laws…Secretly hires RSA lawyers on presidential appeal case

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has hired South African lawyers (Mboweni Maluleke Inc Attorneys) to help in the elections appeal case .

Embattled MEC chairperson Justice Jane Ansah has confirmed hiring the lawyers.

According to documents we have seen, 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.

Social and legal commentator Kondwani Zulu told the Maravi Post that the electoral body is acting illegally on the matter.

“Section 37 of procurement and disposal law clearly states that public procurement shall be realized by means of open tender proceedings, subject to the exception provide in this section.

“Section 37 therefore is quite interesting on procurement . It will be interesting however to see how the hired South Africa lawyers were obtained to represent MEC on the presidential election appeal case”, wondered Zulu.

The Malawi Supreme Court appeal is expected to hear President Peter Mutharika and MEC petition within two weeks of this month, March, 2020

Lloyd M’bwana

I’m a Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resource (LUANAR)’s Environmental Science graduate (Malawi) and UK’s ICM Journalism and Media studies scholar. Also University of Malawi (UNIMA) Library Science Scholar. I have been The Malawi Country Manager and duty editor for the Maravi Post since 2019. My duty editor’s job is to ensure that the news is covered properly, that it is delivered on time, and that it is created to the standards set out in the editorial guidelines of the Maravi Post.