Court nullifies Lilongwe City SE election

The High Court in Lilongwe has today ordered Malawi Electoral Commission to conduct fresh elections in Lilongwe City South East
constituency where a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Ulemu Msungama challenged the results which found that Democratic
Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Bently Namasasu winner.

However, the court has not specified the period during which the rerun should be conducted leaving the position of the DPP MP who has
attended two Parliament meetings so far in limbo.

In reaction to the ruling, Mec spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said: “We respect the ruling of the court and the Commission will meet to
map the way forward. The Commission has always been ready to conduct by-elections at any time whenever it is required to do so in
accordance with the law.”

In her ruling, Justice Esme Chombo said making a ruling on the matter based on the documentary evidence submitted by Mec as respondent,
Msungama as petitioner and Namasasu as interested party to the case would not achieve equity and fairness.

Some of the evidence, which the court had earlier ordered be recounted, was destroyed by fire which razed down part of the warehouse in Lilongwe containing 2 400 ballot boxes.