The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has nullified the elections for Mtandire Mtsiliza Constituency, following complaints by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate George Zulu.
Unofficial results showed that Zulu lost to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Alfred Gangata with 5 votes. He got 12 284 votes while Gangata had 12 289 votes.
According to MEC letter to Zulu’s lawyer Pempho Likongwe, the Commission will hold a by-election in the same manner as if there was a vacancy.
Likongwe has confirmed having received the letter.
Among others Zulu complained of harassment of monitors by MEC officials, and demanded a complete recount of parliamentary ballot papers.
“Kindly be informed that the Commission has had the occasion to consider the complaint and has formed the view that the handling of the polling materials, at the Council, especially the void votes departed from legally set procedure relating to the handling of void votes.
“The Council Returning Officer did not have the authority to prepare any record relating to a parliamentary election the Council, examine void vote and open tamper evident envelopes containing void votes.
“The conduct of the Council Returning Officer in opening the tamper- evident envelopes and purporting to examine the void votes was a serious misconduct and has caused a serious irregularity. In view of these findings, the Commission has been rendered unable determine the results with certainty and has, therefore, resolved that the parliamentary election in the constituency be nullified or cancelled,” reads part of the letter signed by MEC Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja
