Electoral officer removed

Malawi's chief electoral officer, Stuart Winga, was removed from his post on Friday after allegations of incompetence and bias towards the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), media sources told IRIN on Thursday. Winga's removal follows a meeting between the three main political parties, the donor community as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The meeting, which started on Friday and ended on Tuesday, was convened to assess the process of voter registration and discuss the possibility of postponing the date of elections from 25 May. The sources told IRIN that among other allegations against Winga were that he had authorised the printing of ballot papers by a London-based company which had mixed up the symbols of contesting political parties. The failure to timeously deliver registration materials and equipment at more than 100 registration centres was another reason that led to Winga's removal, the sources added. Winga has been replaced by Rooservelt Gondwe, who managed the country's first democratic elections in 1994. At the same meeting, the stakeholders also formed two committees, one of which has been mandated to meet with President Bakili Muluzi to persuade him to urgently reconvene parliament to reconsider the election date. Following the extension of the registration date to 14 May, Malawi's electoral law stipulates that elections have to be held at least 21 days after the close of registration. "There was a feeling at the meeting that should the elections be held on 25 May, the losers in the poll might challenge the constitutionality of the elections," the sources said. The chairman of the electoral commission, Justice William Hanjahanja is also under pressure to resign. The sources said all the stakeholders, except the UDF, want him to quit because of his perceived bias towards the ruling party. The other committee formed at the meeting has been mandated to meet with Hanjahanja to convince him to relinquish his position at the commission. Hanjahanja's bias, according to the sources, was demonstrated in his decision to challenge in the High Court the decision of the two opposition parties, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) to fight the elections jointly. The MCP's Gwanda Chakuamba is the presidential candidate while AFORD's Chakufwa Chihana is his running mate. Although the High Court dismissed this application, Hanjahanja and the electoral commission have launched an appeal in the Supreme Court against the ruling. "The other stakeholders are angry at the way in which Hanjahanja has abused his power to try and dictate to other parties how to organise their election campaign," the sources said. Malawi's election was initially set for 17 May but was postponed after registration materials and equipment failed to arrive and was rescheduled to 25 May. Last week, a group of international observers criticised the registration process, arguing that the whole process was in disarray and that a large proportion of potential voters were denied the opportunity to register after many centres failed to open.