LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi has resigned from his position, bringing to an end a tenure that has been dogged by political controversy, legal battles and recent criminal allegations.
Mpesi confirmed the development on Tuesday.
MEC Commissioner Dr. Limbikani Kamlongera said the announcement was made during an internal meeting chaired by MEC Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja.
His resignation comes barely three months after he was arrested by police in Lilongwe on allegations of abuse of office.
Authorities accused Mpesi of improperly retaining official MEC vehicles.
One vehicle was reportedly being driven by his wife despite her not being an employee of the electoral body.
Following the arrest, Mpesi spent two days in custody before being granted bail by the Lilongwe Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court.
The court set his cash bond at K800,000.
Through his lawyer Chrispine Ndalama, Mpesi challenged the arrest as illegal.
He argued that police acted without obtaining a warrant.
Throughout his tenure, Mpesi also faced accusations of partisanship.
Critics alleged he was closely linked to the opposition Malawi Congress Party.
The claim repeatedly sparked debate over the independence of the Malawi Electoral Commission.
In 2022, the Democratic Progressive Party dragged MEC and Mpesi to court seeking to block his appointment as Chief Elections Officer.
The DPP argued that Mpesi was allegedly aligned to the MCP and unsuitable for the role.
However, the High Court dismissed the application in 2025.
The court ruled that the DPP had failed to provide sufficient evidence proving Mpesi acted in a partisan manner.
Court records showed Mpesi defended himself by stating that he had worked professionally and impartially with several governance and democracy institutions.
These included USAID, Democracy Works Foundation and the Centre for Multiparty Democracy.
Mpesi was appointed MEC Chief Elections Officer in 2022.
His exit now leaves the commission to manage the sensitive pre-election period under interim leadership.