CHRR, Cedep urge MEC to stand firm
Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for Development of People (Cedep) have asked Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to remain firm and deliver election results that live up to the country’s hard-won democracy.
In a statement made available to The Nation, the two human rights bodies say they are keenly following events surrounding the May 20 Tripartite Elections with the latest being some parties, through the courts, challenging MEC’s decision to recount votes.
The two say that amid calls from various organisations and individuals on the way forward regarding the electoral process, “the onus still lies squarely on MEC to execute an electoral job that will satisfy all stakeholders”.
The statement says it is on record that even MEC has admitted to some of the hiccups dogging the vote counting stage of the elections, prompting some quarters, including the State President, to call for nullification of the process.
“While these calls by some concerned parties run the risk of being seen as last kicks of a dying horse, CHRR and Cedep call upon MEC to remain steadfast,” reads part of the statement co-signed by Timothy Mtambo and Gift Trapence, executive directors for CHRR and Cedep respectively.
The statement also notes that while the independence of the Judiciary should be respected, its interference in the verdict of MEC has not addressed the problem at hand, but rather exposed the inconsistencies of the country’s Judiciary system.
“We at CHRR and Cedep feel this is not only confusing but suicidal towards the promotion and protection of good governance and rule of law,” reads the statement.
