MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Human rights and governance advocate Undule Mwakasungula has appealed to the 2019 presidential elections case petitioners’ legal team to revise its 9 billion kwacha legal fees against Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) saying it is a punishment not to MEC but taxpayers.
Mwakasungula has said this through his press release on Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
In his release, the former boss for the Center for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) said the petitioners’ legal team would have put in consideration the economic hardship that Malawians are passing through especially when coming up with their claim.
According to his release, since the 2019 elections outcome to date Malawians have been suffering because of the political violence which has affected them economically due to destruction of their businesses and recently with Covid-19 pandemic.
While emphasizing that democracy is expensive, Mwakasungula said it will be the taxpayers suffering as they are supposed to fund the fresh elections and at the same time pay that huge bill to the petitioners.
“Yes, you are entitled to that however, as a concerned taxpayer, I am pleading with you to reduce the amount. Paying that amount will be like a punishment to taxpayers because of the economic hardship Malawians are passing through. Donors who were expected to support the fresh elections have turned down due to Covid-19 therefore it will be the taxpayers who will fund the election and pay MEC legal fees,” reads part of the release.
Meanwhile Mwakasungula has also rebuked MEC decision to hire foreign lawyers saying the development would have burdened Malawians financially.
Lazarus Chakwera is greedy and I promise that money will never be paid. The FEE will be reduced
Important appeal ..to this looting..its indeed another cashgate .
This mighty be another cash gate in a different form. Am.sure chakwera and Saulosi will be beneficiaries to this looting. This is pure looting. God have mercy with us .
True UDK..this bill is too huge
Timely intervention..such voices matters alot. Listen to the voice of reason you lawyers. You are trying to kill this nation. You have corrupted the whole judiciary and the nation is afraid where are we going.