MCP President Condemns Publicity Secretary’s Statement

Malawi Congress party MCP president Dr Lazarus Chakwera has condemned and disassociated himself from the press statement which publicity secretary Reverend Maurice Munthali made on 13th July about lawyers and officials of Malawi Electoral Commission MEC.

Chakwera has done so as per order of constitutional court judge Dingiswayo Madise within 24 hours in the same media which Munthali made the statement because it was offensive.

In a press release said Chakwera said he had condemned and disassociated himself from some parts of the statement.

He has not disowned Munthali adding the statement may not have been wholly wrong in expressing wonderment and suspicion at the conduct of Malawi Electoral Commission MEC officials and agents.

“Therefore not condemnable there were nonetheless parts of it which were capable of an offending meaning,” said Chakwera

In his statement Munthali said district commissioners had joined the commission’s coercing of presiding officers and other stakeholders to sign clandestine result sheets in exchange of money.

Then Munthali warned MEC and some district commissioners to stop their suspicious moves immediately.

“Munthali thanked presiding officers who had demonstrated patriotism for alerting the nation of such suspicious scenarios,” added Madise

In addition the MCP publicist said the party was concerned that the exercise was being done after alerting or seeking clearance from the court

Finally Munthali appealed to communities to apprehend those officials and take them to police where the presiding officers must demand copies of the documents they were being asked to sign.