MEC Disqualifies Two Parliamentary Candidates

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has disqualified two parliamentary candidates for Dowa South East and Blantyre North East constituencies.

In a statement released on Wednesday, MEC said it has disqualified Dowa South East independent candidate Medson Grandson Nkhoma for clinging to his office after submitting nomination papers. 

The commission also said it has disqualified Blantyre North East UDF candidate Bakali Osman for presenting a fake MSCE certificate.

According to MEC’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sam Alfandika the commission received a complaint that Nkhoma was still working with the Road Traffic Directorate despite being a candidate and had not resigned.

“Upon getting confirmation from the Directorate, the Commission has resolved that Mr Nkhoma be disqualified as a parliamentary candidate for Dowa South East and that his name has been struck off the list of nominated candidates,” Alfandika said.

The section states that “no person shall be qualified to be nominated or elected as a Member of Parliament if that person holds, or acts, in any public office or appointment, except where the Constitution provides that a person shall not be disqualified from standing for election solely on account of holding that office or appointment or where that person resigns from that office in order to stand,”

The disqualification of Nkhoma means the constituency is remaining with eight candidates.

And in the case of Osman, Alfandika says the commission received a complaint in which the candidate’s satisfaction of English proficiency requirement was questioned.

“In processing the complaint, the Commission received information that the certificate that you submitted together with your nomination papers was not a genuine certificate. By letter dated 23rd April 2019, the Commission requested Malawi National Examination Board (MANEB) to confirm the authenticity of the certificate. By letter dated 24th April 2019, MANEB has advised the Commission that the certificate is fake,” Alfandika says.

In a letter to Osman, MEC explains the issue further.

“You aware that one of the requirements to qualify for nomination or election as a Member of Parliament is that a person must be able to speak and to read English well enough to take an active part in the proceedings of Parliament. As a candidate you were under duty to give evidence of English proficiency in whatever form or to make a statutory declaration that you can read and speak the English language well enough. You opted to submit evidence that you can read and speak English. You submitted a Malawi School Certificate of Education (the Certificate) obtained in the year 2008 at Ndirande Hill (Pvt) Secondary School.”