Opposition parties seek court intervention on date for fresh Presidential polls

Opposition parties have filed to the Supreme Court of Appeal an application for clarification on who is supposed to set the date for the forthcoming presidential elections between Parliament and the Electoral Commission.

Khumbo Soko, lawyer for Vice President Saulos Chilima who is also leader of the United Transformation Movement confirmed of the development with one of the local daily papers.

“Our view is that the issue is not as clear from a fair reading of the judgment itself and a consideration of the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act. But we want the Court to clarify whether its Parliament that must fix the date or the EC,” Soko said.

The National Assembly settled for May 19, 2020 as the day for fresh Presidential polls but Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Jane Ansah rebuffed it after President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika refused to sign in law electoral reform bills passed by Parliament.

Ansah then settled for July 2, 2020 as day for fresh President polls but she later proposed for June 23, 2020 following a Supreme Court Appeal ruling upholding Constitutional court ruling on fresh Presidential polls.

Meanwhile there is uncertainty over the future of the fresh Presidential polls following the resignation of Jane as MEC Chairperson.

Ansah told the state controlled Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) on Thursday night that he has tendered her resignation to President Peter Mutharika and is waiting for response.