BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi Parliament has finally set 23 June as date for the Malawi Electoral Commission to conduct fresh presidential election.
The motion was moved by the Alliance for Democracy (Aford) Mzimba North lawmaker Yeremiah Chihana and it was seconded by Lilongwe Mpenu MP, Eisenhower Mkaka of Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
But commotion essued in the House when the House adopted a motion by Chitipa East Parliamentarian Kezzie Msukwa to gazette the June 23 date for the fresh election.
MPs from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vehemently protested against the decision.
MEC, during a meeting with the National Elections Consultative Forum (NECOF) which comprises all election stakeholders in the country last week, announced that in view of the Supreme Court’s ruling on May 8 the Commission had revised the fresh presidential election date to June 23 from July 2.
Ansah said with the Supreme Court’s clarification on the date for fresh election the Commission found June 23 to be an appropriate date for the poll.
“The Supreme Court upheld the fresh election and that it should be conducted within the 150 days from Feb. 3 as per the High Court ruling,” said Ansah.
However, the MEC Chairperson said the date was tentative and that the full responsibility of setting the date for the election lies in the hands of Parliament.
Incumbent president Peter Mutharika is going to face opposition leader, Lazarus Chakwera, in the fresh election and the two opponents have rolled out a stiff campaign across the country to woo the electorate while Mutharika is still indoors.
However, his running mate Atupele Muluzi is vigilantly campaigning for the ruling DPP across the country.
