Tag Archives: Sangwani Mwafulirwa

Malawi

MEC commissioner Bishop Mary Nkosi quits

Maneno Chimulala 1 Comment
MEC commissioner Mary Nkosi quits

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Barely three days after the Supreme Court delivered a landmark ruling in the appeal election case which also faulted the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) for being incompetent in managing the 2019 presidential election, commissioner Bishop Mary Nkosi has thrown the towel on Monday, Maravi Post understands.

According to Zodiak, Bishop Nkosi has left the commission and is on leave pending the end of her contract with the electoral body on June 5, 2020.

However, she has emphasized that her decision has nothing to do with calls for MEC commissioners to step down for mismanaging the 2019 presidential election.

But MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa told this reporter on Tuesday morning that the commission is not aware of that development.

“Talk to her. I haven’t heard about that,” said Mwafulirwa.

Few days ago, another commissioner Linda Kunje told media that she cannot resign because both Constitution Court and Supreme Court did not at any point demonstrate that the election was rigged.

Meanwhile, Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has said there is no need for President Peter Mutharika to fire the commissioners saying “the Supreme Court ruling is self-explanatory on what should be done. They just need to leave the MEC offices, they have been fired.

MEC Chairperson Jane Ansah is on record to have said that she would resign if the Supreme Court maintained the ConCourt ruling.

The Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal on Friday upheld the Constitution Court ruling of February 3, which annulled the 2019 presidential election over alleged irregularities.

MEC and President Peter Mutharika had appealed the decision of the five-judge panel of the High Court sitting as Constitutional Court.

Politics

Malawi fresh election: Swira’s nomination papers not ‘Smart’, MCP-UTM alliance gets another endorsement

Maneno Chimulala
Smart Swira discussing in discussion with MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulira

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Drama continues at the Mount Soche Hotel where presidential hopefuls are presenting their nomination papers ahead of the fresh presidential election with the latest rejection of Smart Swira’s nomination papers by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) due to some flaws on his nomination papers.  

Swira, who is an independent candidate, has not satisfied the K2 million requirement and also failed to produce evidence of ten signatures from each district vetting him for the number one job in the country.

According to MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa, Swira has up to 4pm today to rectify the flaws if he has to be admitted as one of the presidential candidates.

This is the second time Swira had tried to stand as independent candidate but has not fulfilled the requirements.

Reports indicate that his children recently wrote MEC not to allow him to present nomination papers on medical grounds.

In a related development, another independent candidate Phunziro Mvula has given up the race for the highest office in the country, saying he cannot contest in an election conducted by the current crop of commissioners at the electoral body.  

Mvula, whose nomination papers did not even meet the basic requirements for a Presidential candidate, told journalists at Mount Soche Hotel in Blantyre that he has instead endorsed the candidature of Lazarus Chakwera and his running mate Saulos Chilima.

Hardwick Kaliya, independent Presidential candidate also announced his decision to pull out of the race yesterday.

Kaliya has also endorsed Lazarus Chakwera who is the torchbearer of the MCP-UTM alliance.

Politics

Independent candidate Kwechani Nkhoma pulls out of the presidential race

Maneno Chimulala

Writteen by Richard Kayenda

Sangwani Mwafulirwa: MEC’s Director of Communication

One of the Presidential candidates, Kwechani Wesuze Nkhoma, who was the first one to present his nomination papers on Thursday morning, has pulled out of the race.

According to a notice of withdrawal that the candidate has written to Malawi Electoral Commission through its Director of Media and Public Relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, Wesuze Nkhoma has withdrawn from the presidential race on personal grounds.

“I would like to inform you that I am no longer taking part in this year’s fresh presidential elections on 2 July, 2020, on personal grounds. Any inconvenience caused is greatly regretted,” reads the letter in part.

Khwechani Wesuze Nkhoma was an independent candidate who was supposed to open the second day of presentation of nomination papers by presidential candidates at 9 o’clock in the morning. This, therefore, means that out of four candidate who were scheduled to present their nomination papers on 7 May, 2020, only three will do the exercise. They are Mr Phunziro Mvula at 10 o’clock, Mr Smart Swira at 2 o’clock and the State President, Arthur Peter Mutharika, who is the last to present his papers at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

Mr Nkhoma has been the second candidate to throw in his towel after Mr Reverend Hadwick Kaliya did the same on Wednesday; and endorsed the alliance of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM whose torchbearer is Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera.

This now means seven candidates will appear on the ballot papers, should another independent candidate, Ras Chikomeni Chirwa, fail to present his papers today, as advised by Mec after failing to do so yesterday due to fact that he did not deposit the nomination fee of K2 million and also that he failed to solicit sufficient number of signatures from across the country.

Politics

MEC suspends Voter registration in Blantyre City

Maneno Chimulala

Written by Richard Kayenda

Jane Ansah: MEC chairperson

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has suspended the voter registration exercise in Blantyre City following an interruption by some unidentified mobs who beat MEC officials and stole their equipment at Makata and Chirimba centres.

According to a press statement that MEC has released and has been signed by its Chairperson, Dr Jane Ansah, the suspension is with immediate effect.

“The decision has been made to protect the lives of registrants, voter registration staff and MEC property following sporadic attacks in various registration centres by unknown mobs who blamed the Commission for continuing with voter registration amidst the threat of Covid 19 pandemic,” reads the statement in part.

The Commission further advises its stakeholders that when the Supreme Court of Appeal advises it on what do next; following the application it filed with the Court on 11April, 2020, due to the Coronavirus, it will immediately advise the nation on the future of the voter registration in the affected areas.

Confirming the suspension, Director of Media and Communication at MEC, Sangwani Mwafulirwa said those who have already registered, their information is safe and those not registered will be considered in the remaining days when the exercise resumes.

MEC is currently conducting voter registration exercise in readiness for the fresh Presidential polls slated to take place July 2 this year; following the Court judgment on 3 February this year. The first phase of voter registration started with the districts of Chitipa, Karonga, Salima and Blantyre

Politics

Malawi rolls out voter registration for fresh presidential election on low pace

Richard Kayenda

By Richard Kayenda

Sangwani Mwafulirwa: MEC’s Director of Communication

MZUZU-(MaraviPost)—Pollster, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), on Saturday launched the first phase of voter registration exercise for fresh presidential election with a low turnout of new registrants in many centres, Maravi Post has established.

A snapshot survey Maravi Post conducted in districts like Chitipa, Karonga and Salima revealed that very few people were patronizing the centres to get registered.

However, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) through its Director of Communication, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, said the exercise has begun on a good note considering that the first phase is only targeting new registrants.

“This registration is for everyone who has turned 18 or will turn 18 by the 7th of June or never registered in the tripartite elections that we have had in May 2019. But if they registered, they don’t need to register again, neither do they need to go verify their names again.

“Malawi Electoral Commission is going to open the centres after the voter registration exercise for people to verify their details,” said Mwafulirwa.

In Salima the exercise started with some operational hitches as drivers MEC has recruited were reluctant to ferry personnel and materials to the designated centres because of low allowances.

The country will go to fresh presidential polls on July 2 this year after the Constitutional Court nullified the May 2019 election results due to numerous irregularities.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and UTM have been calling for resignation of MEC Chairperson Jane Ansah and all commissioners, arguing they are not competent to administer the forthcoming polls.

Top News

Reporter who complimented Female Malawi Elections Chairperson on how well she dressed apologizes

Ufulu

Capital Radio's Mcfarlene Mbewe
Capital Radio’s Mcfarlene Mbewe went Personal in the Questioning of MEC Chairperson Jane Ansah

Malawi reporter, MacFarlane Mbewe who opened his questioning by complementing how well Jane Ansah looked, especially her earrings has apologized. The reporter went on to allege that the Commonwealth poll observer team leader Thabo Mbeki left the country in anger because he was not happy with the whole election management system.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldFq2JjYDU0[/embedyt]

 

The behavior of the reporter angered the normally mild-mannered Jane Ansah.  She asked him If he could indulge her to be personnel as well since he had gone there. Jane then asked him how old he was to which he answered 30 years.

Then she asked Mbewe which education level he attained, to which he said he was studying for a degree at College of Accountancy.

The reporter seemed not to be not cooperating with the master of the ceremony Sangwani Mwafulirwa who cautioned him avoid reflecting on the MEC chair.

Soon after the questions, Mbewe left the Comesa hall in Blantyre where the press briefing was taking place and one of his colleagues apologized to Chairperson Ansah and MEC officials.

However, all is as well as the young reporter after facing humiliating viral attacks on social media has issued the apology below.

Law and order, Politics

Malawi 2019 voters machine for registration found in Mozambique

Maravi Post Reporter
Malawi 2019 voters machine for registration found in Mozambique

By Alick Mhango

Malawi 2019 voters machine for registration has been found dumped in neighboring Mozambique, officials have confirmed.

Both Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officials as well as Malawi Police Service said the machine was found in a Mozambican train which was heading to Malawi.

However, Malawi national police spokesperson James Kadadzera denied to shade more light on the development claiming it can jeopardize their investigation.

In his remarks, MEC mouth piece Sangwani Mwafulirwa said the said machine went missing recently while in the hands of some officials in Mwanza district.

However, he said the machine was found sealed and that no information was tampered.

He said his organization is still investigating the matter.

Malawi

MEC owes security personnel it’s pay for 2014 tripartite elections 

Maravi Post correspondent

MEC Spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa

About 3000 police officers, who were deployed to provide security services to the 2014 Malawi tripartite elections, are yet to receive their allowances from the electoral body, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Maravi Post has learnt.

Continue reading MEC owes security personnel it’s pay for 2014 tripartite elections  →

Malawi

‘Split Salima Central,’ Constituents tell Malawi Electoral Commission

Maravi Post correspondent

 

MEC Spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa
MEC Spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa

SALIMA-(MaraviPost)-Maganga Citizen Forum in the lake shore district of Salima has petitioned the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to disintegrate Salima Central Constituency into two parts due to unfair distribution of social services. Continue reading ‘Split Salima Central,’ Constituents tell Malawi Electoral Commission →