Court orders DPP to submit new names of MEC Commissioners

The Court in Lilongwe has ordered the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to submit three names immediately within seven days to be considered for the positions of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Commissioners.

The order follows Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda’s ruling nullifying the appointment of four Commissioners by former President Peter Mutharika.

The affected commissioners are Jean Mathanga, Linda Kunje, Steve Duwa and Arthur Nanthuru.

The Court has said the MCP commissioners Anthony Mukumbwa and Olivia Liwewe will continue to serve as commissioners.

The court has also ordered that MCP should resubmit the nomination of Richard Chapweteka, who was removed as a Commissioner nominated by MCP when Mutharika appointed the commissioners, to the President within seven days.

On whether the declaration that the commissioners had not been duly elected will affect the elections they managed including the 2020 fresh presidential elections that elected President Lazarus Chakwera, the court has ruled that the declaration does not affect the validity of the elections the Commissioners managed.

The ruling means MEC is irrelevant effective today.