Malawi: President Mutharika denies to fire electoral body leaders

By James Mwala

Malawi President Peter Mutharika has defied a recent proposal by parliament to fire leaders of the electoral body over their alleged incompetence.

This was announced on Tuesday at a press briefing in Blantyre.

More so, Mutharika has also denied to assent to the electoral bills passed by parliament earlier this year.

All these developments follow after the Considerational Court threw out an order for a fresh election and an urge for the parliament to table bills that would deal with among other things a clear cut definition of majority.

But in his reaction, Mutharika through press officer Mgeme Kalilani described the call by the Public Appointments Committee of parliament as not justifiable.

“The President sees that the committee acted unlawfully by not writing him on what they wrote in the invitation letters to the Commisioners and also they had not been informed about the agenda,” said Kalilani.

Essentially, Mutharika says he finds it unjustifiable for him to axe the Commisioners because they also administered the parliamentary and local government elections which have not been objected.

The Committee had after its inquiry with the Commisioners written Mutharika to fire them on premises that they failed their duties in managing the 2019 presidential elections.

Mutharika has also indicated that perceives the passing of the bills by parliament as unlawful and not in inline with the law.

He has since urged parliament to avoid usurping its mandate.

The South African nation has been faced with political twise after Mutharika’s victory was contested by Lazarus Chakwera and Saulos Chilima of Malawi Congress Party and UTM.

The court then moved to rule that a fresh poll be held in 150 days.