Malawi election re-run slated for July, says electoral commission

Malawi’s electoral commission says it will re-run the country’s presidential election on 2 July following the annulment of last year’s vote over irregularities. Malawi’s constitutional court had overturned the outcome of the 2019 polls handing incumbent President Peter Mutharika a second term in office.

Malawi's incumbent President Peter Mutharika inspects a military parade during his inauguration in Blantyre on 31 May 2019. © AFP - Amos Gumulira

Electoral commission chief Jane Ansah told journalists on Monday that “fresh elections” would be held on 2 July, the AFP news agency reported.

MEC presser underway. MEC chairperson Jane Ansah says the commission is ready to hold fresh elections on 2 July, which is day 149 since the ConCourt ruling after the court ruled that elections should be held within 150 days from the day of the ruling #Malawi #MalawiVotesAgain pic.twitter.com/vJYQb0HmFI

— Jack McBrams (@mcbrams) March 23, 2020

Malawi’s constitutional court had said last year’s elections on 21 May were marred by numerous irregularities including the use of correction fluid on voter tally sheets.

Mutharika is appealing the court’s ruling and the case is expected to be heard by the supreme court on 15 April, according to AFP. The constitutional court had last month ruled that fresh polls would be held within 150 days.