Court orders re-run in Mangochi North East
The High Court of Malawi has nullified the May 21 2019 parliamentary election results for Mangochi North-East and ordered a re-run.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) had declared United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Idi Kalosi winner of the parliamentary seat, but in Monday’s ruling presiding Judge Joseph Chigona ruled in favour of Martin Sekati (Independent) who disputed the results and petitioned the court in July 2019.
The ruling comes barely six months after the same court also nullified the Mangochi West Constituency parliamentary election results in which MEC declared Geoffrey Chiwondo of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a winner.
In an interview on Monday, registrar of the High Court and Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal Agnes Patemba confirmed the nullification of the Mangochi North-East parliamentary election which had eight contestants.
She said the judge noted that there were many irregularities in the management of the election; hence, ordering that the election be conducted again.
Said Patemba: “There were so many irregularities, including submitting results sheets which were not signed.”
In a separate interview, lawyer Chimwemwe Kalua, who represented Sekati, said they were satisfied with the ruling.
He said: “In court, we pointed out some incidences like the missing of strings, the constituency record book, altering of votes cast, among others, which satisfied the court.”
Reacting to the judgement, Kalosi said he accepted the ruling and will not appeal.
The MEC result sheet showed that Kalosi won with 8 980 votes followed by Sekati with 7 053 votes and Overton Saidi of DPP had 4 968 votes.
Other candidates polled as follows: Alfred Mwechumu (independent) 925, Duncan Cassim (UTM Party) 503, Idi Yusuf (independent) 366, Eunice Abudu (Malawi Congress Party) 307 and Baina Kasimu of People’s Party had 292 votes.
