Mixed reactions over MEC commissioners appointment: APM accused of partisan selection

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi President Peter Mutharika has received mixed reactions over the appointment of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioners with some quarters praising him for being gender sensitive while others accusing him of being biased saying it is dominated by ruling party members.

The Malawi leader appointed the commissioners in his exercise of powers conferred upon him by Section 4 (1) of the Electoral Laws of Malawi with effect from June 6 2016.

Commenting, National Coordinator for NGO Gender Coordinating Network Emma Kaliya has hailed President Mutharika for the gender balance in the appointment of new commissioners for the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

However, renowned political scientist at Chancellor College of the University of Malawi, Joseph Chunga, has described the appointment as biased and has potential to negatively affect the 2019 elections.

Chunga told local media that Malawians will not trust the new commission dominated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) diehards.

“The president could have considered names from other political parties. The appointment has already raised eyebrows as some people think the DPP is dominating the commission in order to rig the 2019 elections,” he said.

Mutharika appointed the new team of commissioners on Monday.

The commission comprises of Mathanga a ruling DPP member, a former Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) board chair Moffat Banda, former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) deputy governor Mary Nkosi,former Livingstonia Synod moderator and current Ekwendeni Mission Hospital principal administrator the Reverend Clifford Baloyi and the Reverend Killion Mgawi, who has served Nkhoma Synod as a minister for 53 years besides being its first general secretary.

Others are former diplomat Yahaya M’madi of United Democratic Front (UDF) and Linda Kunje of Peoples Party.

Elvey Mtafu is the only old member who has made it into the new team.