Court nullifies DPP’s MEC commissioners appointment

High Court has ruled that four Malawi Electoral Commission MEC Commissioners representing Democratic Progressive Party DPP were not duly appointed.

Judge Kenyatta Nyirenda has delivered his ruling today after Malawi Congress Party (MCP) complained over the composition of the commission.

The party cited section 4 of the amended electoral commission act of 2017 which gives parties which have one tenth of parliamentary seats power to submit to president a minimum of three nominees to be appointed as MEC commissioners

It argued that the then president Peter Mutharika appointed four commissioners from DPP and two from MCP when he was supposed to appoint three each from the two parties

Kenyatta has agreed with MCP’s argument saying “the law compelled Mutharika to appoint equal number of commissioners from the two parties.”

Kenyatta has since cancelled appointments of the four DPP commissioners and ordered the party to submit three names to president

DPP commissioners whose appointment has been quashed are Arthur Nanthulu, Steve Duwa, Linda Kunje and Jean Mathanga

Meanwhile, MEC says is yet to be advised on the implications of the judgment by attorney general considering that it was not a party to the proceedings

Spokesperson of the commission Sangwani Mwafulirwa says future conduct of planned activities will depend on the advice the electoral body will receive