Court rules in favour of Chimwala, Gaffar in South Lunzu Parliamentary polls case
Published on October 20, 2025 at 9:03 PM by Robert Ngwira
High Court Judge Allan Hanz Muhome has ruled in favour of Independent Shadow Member of Parliament Alex Achalume Chimwala and former Cabinet Minister Rashid Gaffer in case where the two are protesting the outcome of Blantyre City South Lunzu Constituency Parliamentary polls.
The two moved the court earlier this month to nullify the declaration of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Veronica Ndalama as winner in South Lunzu Constituency and order for fresh polls in the constituency.
The two through their lawyer Michael Goba Chipeta accused Ndalama of dishing out money during the polling day with an aim of manipulating voters to vote for her and the case was scheduled for today for preliminary hearing.
When the case commenced on Monday afternoon Ndalama through her lawyer asked the case to dismiss the case with costs on grounds that the petitioners filed the case before the second respondent in the case-Malawi Electoral Commission responded to their complaint.
“My Lord this is incompetent petition because it was filed before the second respondent in the case has given his response and its not an appeal. Therefore I ask the court to dismiss it,” said the lawyer.
But Chipeta said: “My Lord we did file the petition before getting the response from second respondent in the case due to time limit and this is an appeal.”
Judge Muhome agreed with the petitioners and dismissed Ndalama’s plea to have the case struck out.
The case has since been adjourned to November 3, 2025.
