Msisha takes on MEC elections director

Prominent private practice lawyer Modecai Msisha on Wednesday took head on Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) director of electoral services Henzly Munkhondya on alleged irregularities in the results management system in the presidential race in the May 21 Tripartite Elections.

Msisha, who is the lead lawyer for second petitioner and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera in the presidential elections nullification petition, quizzed the witness on a number of issues bordering on how presidential results were allegedly manipulated.

During cross-examination session, the lawyer queried the witness on inconsistencies between results generated by the computer, record log books and scanned result sheets sampled from a number of polling centres nationwide.

Munkhondya’s responses visibly did not impress Msisha.

During the morning session of the court, Judge Ivy Kamanga, a member of the five-judge panel comprising Healey Potani, Mike Tembo, Dingiswayo Madise and Redson Kapindu, threw out members of the public from the public gallery for jeering the witness as he responded to questions.

The order did not affect first petitioner and UTM Party president Saulos Chilima and Chakwera as well as the media and lawyers representing parties to the case

Munkhondya will this morning be re-examined by lawyer Frank Mbeta for first respodent President Peter Mutharika.

MEC information technology director Muhabi Chisi will take his turn in the witness to give his evidence through simulation.

Potani has ordered that Chisi’s team should set up their equipment for simulation by 8am.