The Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) has called on its members to join the demonstrations organised by the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiative (CDEDI). The protests are aimed at demanding the resignation of Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola and MERA CEO Henry Kachaje due to the ongoing fuel shortage crisis in the country.

In a statement signed by AFORD spokesperson Annie Amatullah Maluwa, the party criticized the government for failing to address the fuel scarcity, which has caused significant disruption nationwide.

“The current fuel crisis is evidence that the government has failed to deliver on its promises to the people of Malawi,” the statement read.

The party has also urged the government to take immediate steps to resolve the crisis and suggested that public servants be allowed to work from home as was done during the Covid-19 pandemic.

AFORD’s call for participation adds momentum to the CDEDI-led protests, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the energy and economic challenges.

Press Release:

The Malawi Police Services have confirmed that  Secretary General for United Transformation Movement (UTM) Patricia Kaliati is scheduled to appear in court today on 28 October 2024.

MPS has made the confirmation in press statement signed by national Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya.

In a press statement, police have indicated that investigations on are ongoing regarding charges against Kaliati.

Kaliati was arrested last Thursday on 24 October 2024 on the allege that she was involved in planning a conspiracy to commit a serious offence.

Further details on the case are expected to emerge as investigations continue and police have denied to reveal all the details of the case to protect its wittiness and jeopardising the investigation.

Press Release

The registration of candidates for 2020 PSLCE and MSCE examinations, payment of examination and identity card fees and collection of photos for production of examination identity cards starts on 16th September, 2019 in examination centres approved by MANEB.
During registration, candidates are requested provide the following information:

(a) correct name and name spellings
(b) correct date and year of birth
(c)correct subject entries,especially for MSCE candidates

The college is pleased to announce the general public that the opening date for the second semester is on the 27th August,2018.

1) SMIS Registration

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology wishes to inform all teachers and the general public that the recruitment process for both primary and secondary school teachers has commenced. This follows the passing of 2018/19 budget where Malawi Government committed to recruit 10,000 primary school and 500 secondary school teachers.

This recruitment takes into consideration all teachers under IPTE 10, IPTE 11 and ODL 5. It must also be noted that the sum of the three cohorts is less than our allocation of 10,000 primary school teachers. This, therefore entails that Nobody from the above mentioned cohorts shall be left behind.

This recruitment further takes into consideration Government’s commitment to reduce the high Pupil to Qualified Teacher Ratio (PQTR) between teachers and learners in the country with a goal of improving the quality of education, and also improving the welfare of our teachers.

Currently the Ministry in conjunction with Local Assemblies has finalised the allocation of teachers as per each district’s establishment. All the concerned teachers will be notified before the beginning of the 2018/19 academic year on where to report to formalize their recruitment process by filling GP1 forms.

We are working on a smooth process to ensure that once recruited, all teachers will be introduced on payroll so that councils should not accumulate any arrears. This will be a repeat of last year, where newly recruited teachers were paid their salaries within the first month of their employment.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology is committed to improving quality education as demonstrated in the recruitment of 9630 primary and 1200 secondary school teachers in the last financial year.

Construction of three additional teachers training colleges ( Rumphi, Mchinji and Chikwawa) for primary teachers and establishment of Nalikule College for secondary schools science teachers are just some of Malawi Government projects aimed at addressing teacher shortages. The smooth and fast process of recruiting these teachers depends on the cooperation of our stakeholders that include; Assemblies and the teachers themselves.

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) will from today start engaging stakeholders in the energy sector on the proposed 60% hike in electricity tariffs.

ESCOM pushed MERA to approve a raise in electricity tariffs for the next four years, despite the continued power blackouts.

Captains of Industry complain that the blackouts have led to a slowdown of production and other companies are forced to lay off workers.

15^th February 2017 – The BBC has begun the search for Africa’s next journalism star – launching the 2017 BBC World News Komla Dumor Award in Blantyre, Malawi. Journalists from across the continent are invited to apply for the prestigious prize – which aims to uncover and promote fresh journalism talent from Africa.

The award was set up to honour the memory of Komla Dumor, an exceptional Ghanaian broadcaster who died unexpectedly at the age of 41 in 2014. In his short life Komla made an extraordinary impact – in Ghana, in Africa and across the world – on Joy FM and at the BBC. Through his tenacious journalism and compelling storytelling, he worked tirelessly to bring a more sophisticated African narrative to the world. The BBC is committed to continuing Komla’s legacy and, through this award, aims to empower a new generation of journalists from Africa to tell African stories to global audiences.

Previous winners of the BBC World News Komla Dumor Award are Nancy Kacungira – who worked as a prime time news presenter for KTN in Kenya – in 2015 and Didi Akinyelure – a Nigerian journalist who started out as an investment banker – in 2016. Both winners used their time at the BBC to hone their journalism skills through training, workshops and mentorship.  Working closely with leading talent within the BBC, the winners undertake a final project, travelling to Africa to report on a story they have researched.

During her placement, Nancy Kacungira travelled to Ghana to report on diaspora Ghanaians who had decided to return to their roots. The following year, Didi Akinyelure went to the Ivory Coast to investigate new opportunities for the local chocolate manufacturing industry.

Didi said: “I very much admired Komla Dumor, as did many people across Africa. He was, and continues to be, such an inspiration to journalists from across the continent, so it was an honour to be selected as last year’s award winner to continue his remarkable work. What was truly great about my placement at the BBC was how I was given the opportunity and freedom to tell African stories in the way Komla did; with integrity, impartiality and impact.”

Didi Akinyelure will take part in the launch event for the 2017 prize, which will take place in Blantyre, Malawi, alongside Francesca Unsworth, Director, BBC World Service Group and Deputy Director of News and Current Affairs.

Francesca said: “The BBC is committed to continuing Komla’s legacy of reporting on Africa by launching his award for the third year. We have already awarded and hosted two exceptionally talented journalists, who were given the opportunity to train with us and report from Africa for our audiences across the BBC.  It has been a pleasure getting to know both Nancy and Didi. It has also been great to learn from both our award winners, improving our engagement with local audiences. We’re looking forward to finding the next rising star in African journalism and welcoming them as the next BBC World News Komla Dumor Award winner.”

Now open for applications, entrants have until 23.59GMT on 15^th March 2017 to submit. The winner will spend three months at the BBC headquarters in New Broadcasting House in London, gaining skills and experience.

For more information on how to apply, entry criteria, and terms and conditions visit http://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/job/komlaaward/19947 and use hashtag  #BBCKomlaAward.

For more information contact Rima Armstrong – rima.armstrong@bbc.co.uk

Notes to Editors

 BBC World News and BBC.com, the BBC’s commercially funded international 24-hour English news platforms, are owned and operated by BBC Global News Ltd.  BBC World News television is available in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide, and over 433 million households and 1.8 million hotel rooms. The channel’s content is also available on 178 cruise ships, 53 airlines and 23 mobile phone networks. BBC.com offers up-to-the minute international news and in-depth analysis for PCs, tablets and mobile devices to more than 85 million unique browsers each month.

BBC World Service delivers news content around the world in English and 28 other language services, on radio, TV and digital, reaching a weekly audience of 246 million.  As part of BBC World Service, BBC Learning English teaches English to global audiences.  For more information, visit bbc.com/worldservice. The BBC attracts a weekly global news audience of 320 million people to its international news services including BBC World Service, BBC World News television channel and bbc.com/news.

His Excellency State President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika, wishes to announce to the general public that the, President of the Republic of Ireland, His Excellency Michael Higgins will pay an official visit to Malawi from 10th to 12th November, 2014.

Since the setting up and opening of the Irish Embassy in Lilongwe in 2007, the Irish Government has worked with a variety of partner organisations to help Malawi in its fight against hunger and food insecurity.

In addition to the support provided through the bilateral aid programme, Irish government supports the work of local and international aid agencies and missionary organisations in Malawi. This has built on the already strong historic links between Ireland and Malawi.

During his stay in the country, we will among others discuss how we can improve trade relations between our two countries and how the Irish government can support research and learning partnerships in higher education institutions in Ireland and Malawi through the Programme for Strategic Co-operation.

1. Following social media reports of fire breakout at the Department of the Accountant General at Capital Hill on the evening of Saturday, 18th October 2014, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development (MOFEPD) would like to inform members of the general public and all stakeholders that there was no such fire. What caused the alarm however was a strong smell of burning plastics and smoke as a result of overheating of three fluorescent light tubes in the corridor on the ground floor of the East Wing of the Accountant Generals department building!

2. The overheating of the fluorescent tubes had the potential to cause fire, however due to the vigilance and precaution taken by the security officers on duty at the office to notify senior management and other stakeholders like ESCOM, Police and the City Council helped to manage the situation and prevent fire break out. The area that was affected by this incident is the corridor on the ground floor leading to the computer laboratory which is used for training of IFMIS users throughout the Government.

3. The MOFEPD therefore wishes to inform the general public and all its stakeholders in all Ministries and Departments that IFMIS servers have been switched on after a precautionary temporary shutdown on the evening of 18th October 2014 to allow for proper inspections. This follows a thorough office inspections by technical experts from the Buildings Department, Police and ESCOM who have certified the building safe of any electrical fault. The MOFEPD therefore wishes to advise MDAs that the office of the Accountant General has immediately resumed its normal services including the processing Government payments.

4. As a long term measure the MOFEPD has embarked on a comprehensive preventive maintenance program to check for any faults be it electrical or otherwise in the building to prevent any such incidents that maybe a source of anxiety and speculation among the public.

Ministry of Finance Economic Planning and Development

P.O. Box 30049

Capital Hill

Lilongwe 3

Email: finance@finance.gov.mw

19th October 2014

Omar Gonzalez, 42, who broke into the White House on Friday, was viewed as a threat to the president, new evidence suggests.

The former sniper who broke into the White House on Friday was twice found with a cache of weapons and was viewed as a threat to the president, according to damning new evidence that has prompted an urgent review of security surrounding Barack Obama.

After Omar Gonzalez, a 42-year-old Iraq war veteran, scaled the perimeter fence, sprinted across the north lawn and carried a knife into the residence, prosecutors revealed on Monday that a search of his nearby car uncovered 800 rounds of ammunition, a machete and two hatchets.

White House intruder: Omar J. Gonzalez

It also emerged that Virginia police searched Gonzalez’s car after a high-speed chase in July and found an illegal sawn-off shotgun, two powerful rifles, four handguns and a map of Washington with a line drawn pointing to the White House.

Although President Obama had left minutes before the incident on Friday, growing information on the threat posed by Gonzalez has led to criticism of White House procedures, particularly after officials appeared to acknowledge that the front door of the residence was unlocked.

The incident, which only ended after Gonzalez was tackled by an officer inside the main north portico entrance to the White House residence, has also raised a host of more lasting questions, including whether the secret service is doing enough to protect a president who reportedly faces more death threats than any other.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said it was important to strike a balance between security and continued public access, pointing out that the door is used by thousands of official visitors to the White House, and would be locked in future.

“The secret service has the challenging task of balancing the need to ensure the safety and security of the first family, while also ensuring that the White House continues to be the people’s house,” he told reporters.

There have been several dozen incidents of people jumping the fence in recent years, including a toddler who slipped through the railings only last month, but it is highly unusual for someone to gain entrance to the residence itself and Earnest confirmed that part of the security review would look at why Gonzalez was not stopped by the dog patrols, snipers and other offices who guard the site.

“There’s already some stepped up training for officers who are essentially standing on the front lines of the White House to ensure that they are aware of the policies and procedures that are related to securing the White House and dealing with incidents like the one that we saw on Friday,” he said.

The culture and effectiveness of the US secret service has been under growing scrutiny in recent months, especially after an agent was found drunk in the hallway of a Dutch hotel during a presidential visit in March, and after several agents were accused of buying prostitutes during a summit in Colombia 2012.

Though there were higher than usual numbers of guards in evidence on Monday, the mood in one guard hose used to access the site by journalists was not visibly different from normal, and some guards could be seen chatting and laughing among themselves.

Police in Washington have also been accused of over-reacting to intruders in the past, most recently when a woman who attempted to drive her car into a White House gate with a young baby inside was shot and killed.

Politicians including Washington DC delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton have also criticised one option in the security review which would see the area in front of the White House permanently closed to members of the public.

“Another challenge the secret service deals with … there are overlapping jurisdictions in place, that the secret service does have to work very closely with Park Police and with the Metropolitan police department, as they provide security here at the White House,” Earnest said.

Obama, who had taken off by helicopter bound for Camp David just minutes before the incident, was briefed “multiple times”.

“His family lives in the White House, and so he is obviously concerned by the incident,” added Earnest.

In another option under review according to officials, US secret service agents are considering a plan to cordon off a public plaza that fronts the property, and install security checkpoints a few blocks away, according to a New York Times report.

Visitors bags may be searched at the checkpoints, but the security gates would be unlikely to include body scanners or metal detectors, such as those used by the Transportation Security Administration.

The White House Historical Association, one of several agencies that would be affected by changes to security protocols, said it is supportive of the secret service’s “exploratory process”.

“We’re taking a wait-and-see approach,” said historical association spokesperson Lara Kline. “At this time we are in collaboration waiting and listening to hear from the secret service how they would like to move forward.” An internal investigation is also being conducted.

In addition to the historical association, security changes would likely require input from the Metropolitan police and US Parks police. Currently, at least eight separate agencies are participating in the security review process, the historical association said.

Republicans have been critical of the secret service since Gonzalez, of Copperas Cove, Texas, was able to scale a black iron fence surrounding the property around 7.20pm Friday, armed with a three-and-a-half inch knife, and enter the White House’s front door. Another man was arrested Saturday, after he drove up to the White House gate in his car and refused to leave.

“Unfortunately, they are failing to do their job,” said Jason Chaffetz, chairman of the House oversight and government reform subcommittee. “These are good men and women, but the secret service leadership has a lot of questions to answer. Was the door open?”

The open public plaza itself is the result of a perceived need for greater security. Pennsylvania Avenue, the road running in front of the White House, was open to vehicle traffic until a the a car bomb destroyed part of the Alfred P Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City in April 1995. The same year, a man used a semi-automatic weapon to spray bullets at the facade of the building.

In the fall of 1994, a small plane crashed into the property’s lawn.

In a press statement released, the Malawi Electoral Commission wishes to inform all temporary staff that payment for their June salaries will further delay because The Treasury has not released funding meant for their salaries.

The Commission processed in early June, 2014 the vouchers for payment of salaries for all temporary staff which include District Elections Coordinator s, Constituency Returning Officers, Drivers, ICT Data Entry Clerks, Stringers, Constituency Civic and Voter Education Assistants and Warehouse Clerks but funding has not been honored up to this date.

At the moment the Commission has only managed to pay the temporary staff in question their dues for July 2014 up to their last day of engagement which was July 11, 2014.

The Commission urges all the staff to take note of this scenario and appeal for their patience as The Treasury and the Accountant General are processing the funding.

The general public is assured that it is in the interest of the Commission to pay the temporary staff as soon as possible for the services they rendered and this matter is being treated as a high priority.

The public should also note that this does not affect those who worked on the polling day because their honorarium is being paid from the donor basket funding that is managed by UNDP.

Willie Kalonga
Chief Elections Officer

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and the Centre for Development of People (Cedep) have demanded smooth investigations into the controversy surrounding the ‘malicious’ fire that razed down the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) warehouse in Area 4, Lilongwe last week.

CHRR Executive Director, Timothy Mtambo, and Cedep Executive Director, Gift Trapence said in a joint statement released on Monday that it is saddening that MEC merely described the incident as ‘normal’ prior to a well-established investigation.

“CHRR and Cedep expect nothing short of expeditious and thorough investigations into the matter.

We expect the Police to exercise utmost professionalism and integrity for the good of the country when investigating the matter. Otherwise, fire has denied the constituents and Malawians in general the truth on who was the legitimate winner in the constituency,” reads part of the statement.

It adds “We at CHRR and Cedep recommend urgent full investigations into the matter in the best interest of the people of Lilongwe City South East Constituency and the principles of justice and democracy.”

According to the two bodies, the only way out of the case in which the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is challenging results of the Lilongwe South East Constituency Parliamentary election is by holding by-elections.

On another note, the statement also has asked Government to ensure that premises like the MEC warehouses have firefighting mechanisms in place to avoid further fire accidents on the background of another fire incident that burnt down Mzuzu main market.

“Government of Malawi needs to consider prioritizing fire-fighting mechanisms. It is no secret that of late, the country has lost a lot of property to fire due to delayed fire-fighting by the authorities.”

The burning down of MEC warehouse raised suspicions as it happened at a time when the Commission was to recount votes for the constituency following a court order. MCP candidate Ulemu Msungama challenges the results won by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Bentley Namasasu.

Democratic Progressive Party followers will not be allowed to attend Malawi President Peter Mutharika’s press conferences when he is departing for a foreign trip and upon arrival.

Minister of Information, Tourism and Civic Education, Kondwani Nankhumwa, disclosed this on Friday when he was delivering a statement on the status of the Access to Information Bill.

“Whenever the President is addressing members of the press, only members of the press should be present,” said Nankhumwa, adding that President Mutharika will be having an interface with the media every three months.

He further said his party is eager to separate party and government activities in all aspects.

On the other hand, Nankhumwa said that even with the Access to Information Law in place, it would be practically impossible for all journalists to enter the State House for interviews.

When asked by Balaka North MP and leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the House, Lucius Banda, to clarify on where members of the press would lodge their complaints once harassed by “overzealous party supporters”, Nankhumwa pledged that he would personally be eager to assist.

Nankhumwa also said the Access to Information Bill will be tabled in the House in the next sitting.

Once assented to, the bill will also give an opportunity to local Malawians to seek information from different government departments.

“Malawians will go to District Assemblies to find out how things like the Local Development Fund have been used. [The Access to Information Bill] is a cross-cutting bill,” said Nankhumwa.

Journalists in the country have been booed at presidential press briefings by ruling party supporters especially when they are deemed to have asked questions that cause some discomfort to the ruling officials.

A few minutes after FaceofMalawi disclosed that President Peter Mutharika has appointed UDF leader, Atupele Muluzi as the minister of mining and energy, the state house has announced the final names of cabinet ministers.

President Mutharika has finally and officially appointed Muluzi as a minister in his cabinet. He is the minister of energy and mining, the state house has announced.

The announcement from the state house has so far indicated that the DPP’s die-hard Patricia Akweni Kaliati has as well been included in Mutharika’s maiden cabinet as Minister of Gender.

The DPP leader has since offered a position in the Civil Service Commission to vocal supporter and women’s rights activist Seodi White.

Below is the list of the appointees:

Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Bright Msaka

Minister of Trade and Industry Joseph Mwanamveka,

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Atupele Muluzi

Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Industry Paul Chibingu

Minister of of Gender, Local Government Minister Thom Tarcizio Gowero

Deputy Education Vincent Ng’ambi

Deputy Defence Jampi Mhango

The president has also appointed Alex Nampota as the new Attorney General replacing Antony Kamanga and Collins Magalasi as his Chief Economic Advisor

CIVIL SERVICE REFORM COMMISSION
Head-
Saulosi Chilima

Members:

Bright Mangulama
Thom Mpinganjira
Seodi White
Evelyne Mwapasa
Rev Matiya Nkhoma
Christina Savija

Tel. +265 (0) 1776 181
STATE HOUSE
P.O. BOX 807
CAPITAL CITY
LILONGWE 3

THE STATE OF 2014 TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS IN MALAWI AS OF TUESDAY 27TH MAY 2014

Political developments in the past few days have been challenging to Malawians and have put to test the country’s democracy and governance institutions. These developments, however, have to be put into context.

Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda has always been committed to issues of democracy, good governance and transparent Government since her
accession to the Presidency on 7th April 2012. The President pursued an inclusive, open and participatory Government that respected the Constitution and the rule of law. The same spirit has been demonstrated in the run-up to the elections, when she levelled the political playing field to all political parties.

The President and her Government has managed to heal the country from previous tension and divisions; recovered the economy from near collapse and laid strong foundation for sustainable growth.
The President opened up the public broadcaster, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to all political players; she did not use the state machinery at her disposal to block, interfere, threaten or ban political activities of all contesting parties as has been the trend since 1994.

Malawians ought to remember that previous administrations used District Commissioners and Police to achieve these unacceptable acts. Even though some opposition parties instigated political violence in some instances, Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda always urged her supporters to remain calm and refrain from violence. As a matter of ensuring that the Tripartite Elections were credible, she consulted all major political stakeholders in constituting the Malawi Electoral Commission. Indeed, the Electoral Commission is inclusive of all major political parties that were represented in Parliament.

During her two-year tenure of office, Dr Joyce Banda ensured that Malawi should be and it really is among the most media friendly countries in Africa where freedom of expression is not suppressed. Reputable international commentators have named Malawi as the most media friendly country in Africa.

Prior to the polling date, some opposition elements and some ill-willed commentators propagated in the media that Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda and her People’s Party (PP) were planning to rig the elections. However, in a meeting with the Faith Community Leaders, Her Excellency emphasized that neither PP nor her government had any intention to rig the elections.

However, those propagating this were in fact trying to drive
people’s attention away from their own evil intentions to rig the elections by creating a false impression that the ruling party was planning to rig the elections.

Under Her Excellency’s leadership, the country experienced peaceful voting though with some instances where polling materials were not delivered on time or inadequate. In other cases, wrong materials were delivered. This led to some isolated cases of violence in some parts of Blantyre and Lilongwe, for example, which in turn led to voting being extended to next two days.

Notwithstanding that voting was continuing for the next two days in some polling centres, the media accredited by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) continued to announce the unofficial results while voting was still progressing in the said affected areas. Although many stakeholders demanded that official broadcasters stop announcing the unofficial results while voting was still on-going, announcements continued nevertheless.

There have been reports that some monitors in some polling centres were chased by police and MEC officials, mainly teachers and police officers, even before sealing of ballot papers while in other cases a systematic pattern was emerging that polling staff were influencing voters to vote for certain candidates. These polling officers, mainly teachers and police officers, have now been exposed some of whom have confessed that they were induced with monetary rewards by a certain Presidential candidate.
With the foregoing in mind, it was not surprising when revelations of serious irregularities started emerging; these irregularities had mostly four (4) patterns.

1) Tallies from some constituencies were deliberately altered where figures were inflated to favour certain candidates as in Machinga North East where 38,778 registered voters were recorded while the tally was purposely inflated to purport that 184,223 had voted, figures inflated in favour of a particular candidate; (evidence available);
2) Tallies from polling centres where figures were deliberately erased, tippexed, configured and accordingly adjusted to favour certain candidates, (evidence available);
3) Purported locally printed ballot papers without security features were pre-marked for a certain candidate and staffed in washing baskets, plastic pails and cartons and were ferried to polling centres while monitors were financially induced by polling officers to leave the polling centres while counting progressed. Most of these tallies were not signed and counter-signed by the monitors as required, (evidence available);
4) Some Presiding Officers from one polling centre signed for three different polling centres and in all cases, the figures for a certain candidate were almost the same.

As these challenges were becoming apparent, it was learnt that the
Information Management System designed to manage elections results
was hacked into and crushed. The election stakeholders started raising alarm and the following were raised;
a) That announcing of the unofficial results be discontinued,
b) That the Electoral Commission embarks on manual counting and
verification to address the irregularities as presented by electoral stakeholders.

To add to these voices, Her Excellency the President called upon Malawi Electoral Commission to recount the votes and address the irregularities that had been registered by the stakeholders.
The Malawi Electoral Commission Chairman rudely responded to these
calls as “Cries of losers” and disregarded all the complaints as raised by political parties and other electoral stakeholders. Soon thereafter, wide revelations of rampant and serious irregularities in the electoral process started flooding the public domain. It then became public knowledge that indeed the electoral process had been defrauded. Despite this public outcry
and threats of violence from some political parties, the Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson was intransigent, insensitive and non-responsive to the unfolding events. At this time, it became apparent that the Malawi Electoral Commission had lost control of their own process; were not able to provide leadership in announcement of results and had lost control of election data notwithstanding that accredited media were still announcing
the unofficial results and that tension was brewing in the country.

At this point, Electoral Stakeholders including some Presidential candidates approached the President, Her Excellency Dr Joyce Banda to rise above politics and provide direction for the country. Hence, Her Excellency the President issued a Presidential Proclamation on Saturday 24th May 2014, four days after voting to nullify the electoral process due to serious
irregularities that had emerged and the State President determined that fresh elections be held in 90 days. Her Excellency The State President used the powers vested in her, under Section 88 (2) to provide Executive Direction in the interest of national unity and security.

The immediate reaction to this proclamation by certain sectors of the society who felt were going to benefit from the serious electoral irregularities was negative.

However, four hours after the proclamation, the Malawi Electoral
Commission came public to address the nation admitting that the electoral process could indeed not be relied upon, and the electoral data could was not trustworthy and therefore could not provide a credible platform for announcement of results.

Secondly, the Commission requested the nation to give them an allowance of 30 days to physically verify the ballot papers and conduct the recount of the votes to remedy the many irregularities the Commission had come across. This admission by the Commission vindicated the Presidential Proclamation that had just been issued and further comforted the public as it was now evident that the Commission had started listening and acting in
the national interest.

In a similar show of support, one of the broadcasting houses that was accredited to announce the election results, Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), five hours after the proclamation, went public retracting that the electoral results they were announcing were unverified, could not be relied upon hence should be disregarded. It became evident that the Presidential Proclamation had calmed the citizens and it brought hope of a peaceful and credible resolution to the irregularities of the electoral process.

Despite the public excitement that this development brought to the nation, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and their network obtained three injunctions restraining Malawi Electoral Commission from proceeding with the recounting and verification exercise. Malawi Electoral Commission and Malawi Law Society also obtained injunctions against the President’s Proclamation. These many injunctions brought confusion to the direction of the whole electoral process and demonstrated that the credibility of the
electoral process had been destroyed leaving the expectations of
Malawians heavily eroded.

After extensive public debate and Stakeholders’ consultations, Malawi Electoral Commission announced to the nation on 26th May 2014 that they are convinced that the data available could be relied upon and therefore will not announce the results of the elections until a full recount and verification had been done; they further announced that they will take 30 days to carry out this exercise. This announcement by the Commission brought comfort and relief to the Malawi populace that the call by Her
Excellency The President Dr Joyce Banda was now being heeded to.

Despite this new welcoming decision by Malawi Electoral Commission, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is still bent on frustrating this development which has been thoroughly discussed and agreed upon by Election Stakeholders and welcomed by the whole nation. The question in the people’s minds is why is the DPP still refusing the welcome development accepted by all stakeholders? If indeed the DPP has won legitimately, why not wait for the audit process to finish so that they form the next government on a clean sheet?

Reference can be made to several commentaries and expert opinion some of which are attached.

ISSUED BY
STATE HOUSE PRESS OFFICE
KAMUZU PALACE, LILONGWE
27TH MAY 2014

AGI PROJECT WINDING UP IN MALAWI ON MUTUAL AGREEMENT

We would like to put the record straight regarding the support that Her Excellency the State President Dr Joyce Banda’s office has been receiving from the Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) since July 2012. AGI’s mandate was to help build systems in the President’s Office and to support government’s effectiveness. At the inception of the partnership, Government and AGI agreed that in view of the May 2014 general elections, AGI would plan to accomplish their work by January, 2014.

In view of this initial arrangement, AGI is winding up its work in Malawi at the end of this month based on this mutual agreement and understanding. The AGI team has been on holiday for Christmas and New Year and returns to Malawi in a week’s time and will have end-of-project meetings with all stakeholders and wrap up of its project.

There is, therefore, no question of Right Honourable Tony Blair quitting as President Joyce Banda’s advisor as alleged in the January 5, 2014 Sunday Telegraph of the United Kingdom and as picked up by the media in Malawi on January 6, 2014. In addition, there is no link whatsoever between AGI’s winding up and the looting of government coffers as alleged by the media. It is also not correct to say the AGI team was helping the President to run this nation. As already stated, the AGI’s mandate was to help strengthen systems in the President’s office and support towards government effectiveness.

As stated in our press release of 20 December, 2013, Government is grateful to AGI for its support and would be pleased to continue working with it after the elections. AGI also stated in its recent press statement that it is ready to come back to Malawi after the elections if invited.

State house press office