HRDC announces fresh demo date

By Talasina Kaipa

The human rights lobby group – HRDC has resolved to shut down MEC offices as a strategic resolve to forcing chairperson of the commission Jane Ansah out of office.

The grouping which has been critical of the commission way before the court made the ruling says the demonstration will take place on 13th February 2020.

According to the Chairperson for the grouping, Timothy Mtambo, they feel with the ruling which criticized the electoral body for being unprofessional in the administration of the presidential election, their calls for the commissioner to resign have been heightened. ‘’We are saying that our demands have now been supported by the recent ruling.

We are urging the commissioners to resign as soon as possible. The demonstrations will carry that message and we want it to sink in the minds of the commissioners,’’ said Mtambo.

The HRDC says if their demands this time are not addressed, they will move to close all MEC offices in the country.In its ruling, the court also upbraided the commissioners of the electoral body for delegating its judicial powers to Chief Elections Officer Sam Alfandika who was one of its witnesses in the case to lead activities such as auditing results and addressing complaints from parties.

Lead Judge Healey Potani said the court found the irregularities which the commission did not addressdemonstrated that the elections were not free and fair, something that saw the court order a fresh poll in 150 days.Meanwhile, MEC and President Peter Mutharika arechallenging the ruling and have since filed grounds for appeal.Mutharika had in his statement said he found the ruling as a miscarriage of justice but maintained the move is not meant to stop the ordered fresh poll.

Source : MIJ Online