On Monday May 27th, Electoral commission chairwoman, Justice Jane Ansah, announced the results of Malawi Elections in Malawi’s commercial capital, Blantyre. Declaring Peter Mutharika, the winner.
The announcement came minutes after High Court Judge Charles Mkandawire lifted an injunction obtained by Chakwera’s Malawi Congress Party (MCP) to stop the commission from releasing the results of Tuesday’s vote.
Just before declaring Mutharika the winner, Chairperson Ansah said the following
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the Commission has thoroughly reviewed all the complaints that were lodged for the presidential election and we declare the presidential elections to be free and fair and these results are the true reflection of the will of the people of Malawi,” said Jane Ansah the chairperson of the commission at a briefing in Blantyre.
Jane Ansah has an Accomplished career; she is a former Malawian Supreme Court Judge and was the first female Attorney General in Malawi.
However, she is in the news for her role as the head of the Malawi's Electoral Commission during the 2019 elections where she declared Peter Mutharika the winner.
Soon after the Announcement UTM Party leader Saulos Chilima and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera went to Court claiming there was rigging. They wanted the Constitutional Court to judge whether there was rigging or not in the May 21st Tripartite Elections.
Happening as well were Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) led demonstrations demanding that Jane Ansah resign. Mtambo and his group supported by United Transformation Movement (UTM) Party leader Saulos Chilima and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera have demanded they will not rest until Jane Ansah resigns.
However, MEC and its chairperson believing they conducted the Elections with integrity and responded to all complaints that were lodged within proper channels were responded to and resolved believe they do not see the need for Justice Ansah's resignation.
Responding to an inquiry from the Maravi Post as why she does just resign to appease the demonstrators and bring peace to the Nation, Sangwani Mwafulirwa Director, Media and Public Relations said
The issues you raise are reflecting on the matters that currently are under litigation. To avoid being sub judices, the MEC is restraining itself from commenting.
Supporting this stance is the fact that UTM Party leader Saulos Chilima and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera have not stood well to the cross-examination administered by Malawi’s Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale.
Further evidence that she is not deterred, Jane Ansah last week hosted the 21st Annual General Conference of Electoral Commission Forum of SADC Countries in Blantyre, Malawi with an aim of sharing trends in electoral democracy in the region.
The conference run successfully from September 23 to 27, 2019. Vice President Everton Chimulirenji who was elected in the same contested Elections said that the forum helped SADC Countries to share ideas on how they can improve and perform well in their duties.
According to MEC and Chairperson Ansah this is much ado about nothing
