MALAWI: Court Dismisses Chirwa’s Challenge In Mzimba Luwerezi Election Case

By Smile Hamilton Malawi

The Mzuzu High Court has dismissed a petition by former Mzimba Luwerezi legislator Sam Chirwa, who was challenging the results of the September 16 parliamentary election over alleged irregularities.

Chirwa had argued that the electoral process was compromised, claiming that some of his monitors were denied access to voting centres and that their phones were confiscated during polling.

The Malawi Electoral Commission and the declared winner, Fischer Canaan Nkhwazi, were listed as the first and second respondents in the case.

Delivering her ruling, Mzuzu High Court Judge Gladys Gondwe said the alleged irregularities were not proven and could not warrant nullifying the election. She further noted that even if the claims had been proven, the margin between Chirwa and Nkhwazi was too wide to alter the outcome.

“The petitioner failed to demonstrate that the alleged irregularities affected the credibility of the election,” Judge Gondwe said.

Lawyer Sylvester Ayuba James, representing Nkhwazi, welcomed the ruling, saying the court had agreed with their position that the petition lacked merit. “We are satisfied that justice has been served because the grounds presented were not substantiated,” he said.