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MLS paints gloomy picture of economy

The Malawi Law Society (MLS) has painted a gloomy picture of the country’s economy due to the political impasse following the announcement of the May 21 Tripartite Election results.

In a letter dated July 30 2019 titled Management of Electoral Complaints and Determination of Electoral Results Concerning Presidential Elections of 21 May 2019 addressed to the Reserve Bank, Bankers Association of Malawi, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Malawi, Consumers Association of Malawi and Indigenous Business Association of Malawi, MLS expresses doubt that the current political impasse would end soon. It said its position is based on the fact that Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah is refusing to resign.

Some Malawians are demonstrating to force Ansah to resign

The letter signed by MLS president Burton Mhango and secretary Martha Kaukonde also cites the long court process as another reason the current political stand-off will likely continue.

Meanwhile, MLS says it is consulting the aforementioned institutions for their independent, professional, and objective evaluation of the economic and financial implications.

The letter further says the input will help the society formulate strategies and proposals for managing the situation in accordance with the understanding of the rule of law.

Reads the letter in part: “The practical implication of all this appears to the Law Society to be that the situation of uncertainty is bound to last for some time and bears with it the risk of erupting into ungovernable situation adverse to public interest with potential significant risk to vulnerable groups such as children and people with disability.”

UTM Party and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) are disputing the May 21 presidential election results while Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) is continuing with demonstrations until MEC chairperson Ansah resigns for allegedly mismanaging the results.

Last month, MLS issued another letter, urging political parties, including President Peter Mutharika, to prepare their followers for the outcome of the case which may go either way. n

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