Constitutional Court Dismisses Mutharika’s Application

Constitutional Court in Lilongwe has ruled against an application by President Peter Mutharika and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to quash the referral case.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Lazarus Chakwera and UTM party president Saulos Chilima are challenging the results of the last month’s presidential elections in which Mutharika was declared a winner.

A panel of five judges made the ruling last night after a turbulent day when the country’s post-election political crisis deepened both in and outside Parliament.

But delivering the ruling the Constitutional Court said the Mutharika failed to strictly adhere to rules of procedure by citing nonexistent rules.

The panel added that “the 1st Respondent’s application was also aimed at delaying the fair trial of the matter therefore the matter should be dismissed with costs.”

The five judges hearing the matter are Healey Potani, Mike Tembo, Dingiswayo Madise, Ivy Kamanga and Redson Kapindu.