BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—History has repeated itself today as Malawi Electoral Commission has once again rejected independent candidate Ras Chikomeni David Chirwa to contest in the forthcoming presidential election after failing to obtain required signatures in all district councils.
MEC chief executive officer, Sam Alfandika, was spotted advising Chikomeni to rectify the flaws on his nomination papers but Chikomeni attributed his failure to fulfill the requirements to the covid-19 pandemic.
Key shortfalls include failure to get ten signatures in every district council and failure to show evidence that he has deposited K2 million in the electoral body’s bank account.
Chikomeni argued that he failed to get all required signatures because of travel restrictions due to COVID-19 pandemic.
He also disclosed that a well wisher who is based in South Africa, promised to give him the K2 million but failed to honour the pledge due to the lockdown in that country.
Chikomeni still maintained his mother as his running mate.
MEC has given Chikomeni up to Thursday May 7, 4pm as deadline for submission of presidential nomination papers.
In last year’s election, Chikomeni’s nomination papers were also turned down by MEC due to the same shortfalls.
In a related development, Hardwick Kaliya, independent Presidential candidate has said he will not contest in the forthcoming polls.
Kaliya has since endorsed Lazarus Chakwera who is the torchbearer of the MCP-UTM alliance.
