Tag Archives: Ras Chikomeni Chirwa

Chilima’s name missing on List of Candidates for Presidential rerun

2020-05-04 Maravi Post Reporter

The Malawi Electoral Commission MEC will from Wednesday 6th May 2020 start receiving nomination papers from aspirants for the fresh presidential election. According to a press release issued by MEC, the event is scheduled to start at 9 o’clock in the morning at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre.

First to present the papers will be Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party to be followed by Mr. Shaibu Mustafa of the New Vision for Democracy Party. Later at 11 it will be the turn of Peter Kuwani of Mbakuwaku Movement for Development. Ras Chikomeni Chirwa an Independent Candidate is scheduled to present his papers at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. The first day will wind up at 3 pm with the presentation of papers from Mr. Reverend Hardwick Kaliya also Independent.

The statement from the commission further states that the presentations will proceed to Thursday the 7th of May 2020 at 9 am with a presentation of nomination papers from Independent candidate Khwechani Wesuze Nkhoma. Then at 10 o’clock it will be the turn for Independent Candidate Phunziro Mvula who will be followed by another Independent candidate Smart Swira at 2pm.

The presentation of the Presidential nomination papers will end at 3 pm with the Presentation from His Excellency the President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika. Candidate for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party DPP.

Conspicuously missing on the nomination list is UTM leader Saulos Klaus Chilima whose party recently signed an electoral agreement with the MCP of Reverend Lazarous Chakwera.

During the signing ceremony, the two parties never disclosed who was to be Presidential Candidate and Running Mate.

However, following this release of the nomination papers presentation list, Chilima is likely to be running for public office once again but seeking the very same office of Vice President as Lazarous Chakwera’s possible running mate.

Chilima has in the past made public pronouncements that having been Vice President of Malawi for 5 years, his ambition is to seek the highest office of the land, that of President.

Unless something dramatic happens within the next 24 hrs, Saulos Chilima may be once again running mate with his face missing on the ballot paper.

Malawi court snubs Ras Chikomeni’s injunction ex-parte; set Feb 18 for hearing

2019-02-11 Ufulu

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The High Court Judge Healey Potani this week declined to grant Ras Chikomeni Chirwa the injunction ex-parte following failure to submission of nomination papers due lack of MK2 million fee.

Judge Potani however advised the applicants’ lawyers to serve the summons on Malawi electoral Commission (MEC ) so that both parties are heard before an injunction is issued.

The court has set February 18 for the inter-partes hearing where MEC is expected to meet Chikomeni Chirwa again, this time around not at Comesa Hall in Blantyre, but to battle it out legally in a court of law.

MEC on Friday, February 8, closed receiving of nomination papers but Ras Chikomeni failed to show up as advised.

Chikomeni is pursuing the matter in the High Court of Malawi with assistance of lawyers hired by Centre for Human Rights Education, Advice and Assistance (Chreaa).

Chikomeni was sent back on Wednesday after he failed to pay MK2 million nomination fees as well as getting all the needed 10 signatures per district for endorsement as presidential candidates.

The presidential aspirant on Thursday made a frantic plea to well-wishers to give him the MK2 million and asked those who took the forms in the districts to send him through whatsapp the signatures.

“I need them fast, fast and fast please,” said Chikomeni, the only presidential candidate who had his supporters filling the Comesa hall in Blantyre where the presentation ceremony of the nomination papers took place since Monday.

Chreaa feels the MK2 milion nomination fee MEC is too exorbitant for most Malawians and it means that only people who are rich can contest for the presidency.

Damiano Ganiza was the last to appear before MEC but his nomination papers were rejected because, among other issues, he failed to provide evidence of English proficiency.

He later accused MEC of double standards, saying the pollster could have given him time to get the evidence.

It transpired that in 2009, his presidential bid was rejected because of lack of English proficiency.

He appeared before the commission soon after president Peter Mutharika presented his nomination papers along with his running mate Everton Chimulirenji.

But there was drama at the Comesa hall as Florence Fulaye whose papers were rejected on Thursday refused to leave the hall unless MEC accepted her papers.

Her papers were rejected because she failed to pay the K2 million nomination fee and failed to get the 10 signatures endorsement per district among others.

Consequently, Malawi Police officers surrounded her and forced her out of the Comesa hall.

At least 10 presidential candidates have presented their nomination papers to MEC, three of them rejected by MEC which means Malawi will have seven presidential candidates, only one an independent presidential candidate.

Opinion

Ras Chikomeni Chirwa’s teaching moment!

2019-02-09 Maravi Post Author

Written by Grace Manyika Human rights Lawyer

Malawians should learn from Ras Chikomeni Chirwa as to how to start a complaint against the government. First of all you gather the evidence `for your case; research and understand the process; study both the universal and domestic laws to rely on; find the responsible department and begin.

As Ras Chikomeni Chirwa says he has been raising his arguments against the process with MEC but did not get a satisfactory response, this being the first stage of bringing up a complaint with a government department.

As he did all that in writing he has more evidence in addition to what he demonstrated on Wednesday at MEC. Whilst others think he was there as a comic to entertain, no the guy was determined to expose the system and for the nation to see on live TV how it’s all deliberately designed to work for the privileged few.

Further, to question the drafting of these laws that conflicts with the constitution. Thirdly, to question the authority behind the decision to impose the 2 million and the reasoning behind it.

Other issues include the treatment of Rasta’s in the country, BRIAN Banda has demonstrated enough of this and it’s sickening. As he said, they are denied employment, etc. because of their image and beliefs and now his constitutional right, being required to pay for it.

Indeed where is the law to protect the independent candidates? Do they make these things up as they go? I dint get the section that requires 19 endorsements from districts. It’s like the media imposing a condition for him to turn up in a suit in Malawi colors? If only Malawians understood what the guy is trying to do and how he does it to be heard, they would not be wasting their time attacking the president, directly, for everything cause you need to address the whole syndicate that excludes the rest of the society. Am sure Jane understood what Ras was up to and gave him the platform to make his argument, because they could have easily checked with their bank, that payments have been made. Presenting a deposit slip on the day does not mean payment has gone through as one can stop the cheque or the cheque may not be honoured.

For fear of being embarrassed or being fleeced of their 2 million, many went into alliances without addressing the problem. Ras is not a coward he decided to take the establishment on. Am glad George Kasakula, unlike Brian, is beginning to understand the points Ras is raising. Ras I believe will single-handedly change the culture of fear within us all. LIKE THEY SAY NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER. RAS IS ON A MISSION. Mum was not necessarily a running mate but needed his mum nearby to shield him as he finally executes his master plan, foil the abuse of power!

Note: The beliefs of the Rastafarian are often misunderstood. To many, anyone who has dreads, smokes ganja, and plays Reggae music is a Rasta. There is much more than those three elements to being a Rasta. Rastafari is more than just a religion. It is a movement and a way of life.

Opinion

MCP’s alliance with little known Freedom Party is just a face saving stunt

2019-02-09 Patseni Mauka 1 Comment

Kachali with Chakwera — Khumbo Kachali and Dr Chakwera

Written by Patseni Mauka

There are similarities between Lazarus Chakwera and Ras Chikomeni Chirwa. They both come from religious backgrounds. Ras Chikomeni is a devote Rastafarian, complete with dreadlocks. Chakwera is a devote Pentecostal Christian and Pastor, complete with a fake American English accent. Having not miraculously gotten rich from ‘religious activities’ like prophets of today, these two are relatively poor. Chikomeni is just poorer than Chakwera.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not degrading these people. Poverty is poverty, it has one name only and I don’t know any other word to use in place of poverty. I have my own poverty. Proudly, my poverty includes not understanding why DPP failures and thieves should seek to be voted back into power. So allow me to use the word as it applies to these two presidential aspirants.

Reportedly, Ras Chikomeni could not afford two million Kwacha for nomination fees and his papers were rejected by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC). This has exposed the inaccuracy in the statement; ‘anyone who qualifies to be president can stand’. Maybe they should change and say; ‘anyone who has money to pay nomination fees can stand’. Unless some donor comes up with the two million Kwacha for nominations fees, our respected Rasta will not be on the ballot in May. Very unfair.

Chakwera and MCP could not afford campaign money. The difference is that while Ras Chikomeni could not find donors for his nomination fees and campaign money, Chakwera found a solution, albeit one that will have disastrous results in the near future. Chakwera found a donor. Well, actually he found a buyer for MCP.

One of the recommendations by MCP strategists was to spend big on campaign and get a partner from the southern or northern region in order to win the elections. Chakwera thinks in Sidik Mia, he got both campaign money and a partner for the south. What he doesn’t know is that he has sold MCP. Mia is not a partner who can make a difference in votes in the south, unless some miracle happens.

Mia is the same as having no partner at all. Apart from winning parliamentary elections in his constituency in Chikwawa, he has no record of having followers in the South, it’s just illusion. Just because he was a cabinet minister, people think he is a bigwig. But I know many former cabinet ministers who believed that by constantly appearing in the news, they were bigwigs. Most are jobless now, without even having a parliamentary seat.

Mia just mastered the art of making himself look big and popular. Mia made a lot of money from questionable deals with fellow businessmen when he was in government. With this money, he easily duped Chakwera to controversially choose him as his running mate way before the MCP convention rubber stamped the terrible idea.

Mia just wants to use the MCP train to get what he wants, the presidency. When he gets the Presidency, MCP will be his farm, like the one he has in Chikwawa. He has tried it with UDF, DPP and PP before. With PP, he was so disappointed and angry when Joyce Banda bypassed him in the running mate selection. He resigned from PP a few months before the 2014 elections. When he fails to get what he wants through MCP, he will jump the ship again. That’s when Chakwera will know the disaster he has created now.

Chakwera probably secretly knows he has failed to get a solid partner for MCP to break the jinx of getting majority of it’s votes from the central region only. That is why this week, to show something, Chakwera announced an alliance with little known Freedom Party. It’s a face saving stunt for Chakwera who has failed to court known parties that would make a big difference in the elections.

Lifestyle, Regional

Ras Chikomeni Chirwa: Has He Been A Joke?

2019-02-06 MaraviPost

Ras Chirwa — The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Jane Ansah has rejected nomination papers for aspiring Presidential Candidate Ras … Chikomeni Chirwa

Written by Former Inspector General Lot Dodzi

In 1984 I was in Jos Nigeria. We were driving to church that morning, ahead of us was a VW Wagon. As we came close to it we read the words” PASSION WAGON”, Then we came closer and read” DON’T LAUGH”, We came closer and read”YOUR DAUGHTER MIGHT BE INSIDE” Sigh!

Was Ras Chikomeni Chirwa a joker?

No, he was a REVOLUTIONARY. Listen to his words after his nomination was turned down:” Ndinayesesa. Koma chandivuta ndi umphawi. This should be a lesson to Malawians. No matter how hard you try. No matter how much love you. But if you are poor, the system will always make sure you remain poor and the rich get richer.. This is my story.

Tomorrow it might be you. Not in the political field but maybe in the educational field, where you are intelligent but can’t pay fees. Maybe in the health field where you can’t get treatment. Don’t laugh at me, let this be a lesson. We might all be Malawians in the eyes but we are divided. Some are poor like me and some are able to buy their way into everything. I still love those that supported me despite my financial state.”

These are the words of a revolutionary not a joker?

1. He wore a shirt inscribed ETHIOPIA. This is not Ethiopia as we currently know it. It is ETHIOPIA the ancient, the true name of the continent known as Africa.. Why did he put on that shirt? He was pronouncing his political philosophy. He was saying; ” I am a Pan-Africanist, I believe in the total emancipation of the African people and I am committed to the decolonisation of the African mindset as it currently stands.

2. He choose, note choose, because he later read in English with an above average fluency, to speak in Chichewa, a widely spoken and known language. He rejected to use the language of the oppressor. He used the language of the people. He was fully identifying with them.He used the language of inclusion.

3.Ras Chikomeni Chirwa represents a community of people that feels marginalised and excluded from taking part in the mainstreams of Malawian life. It is a growing group. It meets in exclusive places mostly along rivers of squatter communities of our cities and in mountain areas of our rural areas. You might ask, Why did he seems to be a sole sojourner? It is because he is a visionary who sees far ahead of his community. His action will open the eyes of his compatriots. In 10 to 15 years time, this will be a community to contend with. It is time the rest of us Malawians begun to listen to their voice.

4. From his statement above he also belongs to the community of those that are called poor, and they make the majority of the population in Malawi. One day these will be mobilized, God forbid, not into a Revolutionary Movement that will be ready to die for a cause. The message from Ras Chikomeni Chirwa is simple” Pay attention to the plight of the poor, we will not be patient for ever, none of you are our representatives.

5. The question is ” Didn’t he know he will be rejected for lack of payment of the fee?” The answer is, he knew very well. Why did he then come anyway? To demonstrate on a national platform that ” this is an exclusive society, we the poor remain the downtrodden and scum of the earth. This is not a simple message. Those who have studied Liberation Theology should understand this. This man is thinking at a higher plane that most of us see and conceptualize.HE IS NO FOOL.

In conclusion, was Ras Chikomeni Chirwa a laughing matter? Fellow Malawians “Do not laugh, this might be a brewing revolution whose fire we might fail to extinguish. I am not laughing. Ras Chikomeni Chirwa has communicated a serious message. It calls for meditation.

The Maravi Post