By Patricia Kapulula:
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has nullified results for the Lilongwe City Bwaila Constituency following irregularities in handling void votes.
The Commission has since recommended a bye-election at a date to be announced later.
According to unofficial results, Kabambe Precious Pempho Gama of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) had 8,199 votes seconded by Hellen Zalira Chabunya of UTM who had 6,387 votes. Mike Chimzukira of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) 7974 while independent candidate Henry Muyaya got 3,670 votes.
Speaking during the Stakeholder Update on the Declaration of the Parliamentary Election results at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe Monday night, Mtalimanja said the Commission received complaints from contestants for the constituency which necessitated the nullification.
She said handling of the polling materials at the Council, especially void votes, departed from legally set procedures relating to void votes.
“The Council Returning Officer did not have authority to prepare any record relating to a parliamentary election in the Council, examine void votes, and open tamper evident envelopes containing void votes,” she said.
She said the conduct of the officer in opening the envelopes was a serious misconduct which has caused an irregularity hence the nullification.
In accordance with Section 96(1) and (2) of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, the Commission is supposed to examine votes classified as void at the polling stations and to affirm or correct the decisions of the Presiding Officers if their total is significant to change the election results.
The Commission is expected to announce local government elections results within 21 days from the polling day.
