Social media upsets MEC
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale told journalists in Blantyre yesterday morning that his next appearance would be to declare the winner of Tuesday’s fresh presidential election.
But the full commission was forced to reappear around 10.30 pm, to dispute social media postings, accusing commissioners nominated by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) that they were not willing to sign for the results.
Kachale, appearing upset, said it was disappointing and discouraging that after all the efforts his team was applying to deliver a credible election, some people, whose identities are known, were posting speculations that are not true.
The MEC chairperson, a judge of the High Court of Malawi, warned that the commissioners that are being unfairly attacked had rights and may decide to seek legal redress.
He said he was working so well with his team and since their appointment on June 7 2020, they were applying their energies to serve the nation, adding there were no disagreements whatsoever among them.
Kachale also said they were making good progress and would by today announce the winner, but complained that such unfounded accusations could be disturbing; hence his decision to address the media.
As the nation continued to wait with bated breath for the official result to be announced today, MEC announced earlier that it had managed to confirm and determine results from 50 percent of the 28 district councils.
Results confirmed and determined by the commission before midnight yesterday were from 14 districts of Likoma, Chiradzulu, Mwanza, Mulanje, Neno, Chitipa, Mangochi, Rumphi, Balaka, Phalombe, Zomba, Ntchisi, Lilongwe and Nkhotakota.
On confirmation and determination of the total vote cast, MEC director of media and public affairs Sangwani Mwafulirwa announced last night that the commission had captured 30 percent.
Unofficial results show that the Tonse Alliance torch bearer Lazarus Chakwera is comfortably leading and is set to become the sixth President of the Republic of Malawi.
Confirming and determination of the remaining 50 results from the 14 districts or 70 percent of the total votes cast, continued last night and was expected to continue today so as to announce the result before midnight.
The MEC chairperson made a commitment Thursday that, while they were within the law to announce the results within eight days after voting, the nation should expect to hear the results within the next 36 to 48 hours.
With Chakwera taking the lead, celebrations by Tonse Alliance supporters in some parts of the country have already started, but the MEC chairperson and representatives of security agencies present at the National Tally Centre at College of Medicine Sports Complex in Blantyre yesterday morning, continued their appeal to Malawians to remain patient.
“We appeal for patience and calm. As stated before, the commission appreciates how important it is to release the final results and we are doing everything possible we can to ensure that this process is concluded in time
