Court rules in favour of opposition

Malawi’s Supreme court on Monday ruled in favour of a demand by the opposition coalition to inspect voting materials in 15 of the country’s 27 districts following the June general elections, sources confirmed to IRIN on Tuesday. Simon Kambalame, a spokesman for Malawi Electoral Commission told IRIN: “The court ordered the commission to produce voting materials to the opposition coalition’s lawyers within 21 days from the date of the ruling and that the opposition must inspect these within 21 days following their access thereto.” These inspections, according to the court, would be conducted at the disputed centres, added Kambalame. The opposition coalition grouping the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) launched an appeal to the Supreme court in July after the Lilongwe High court dismissed their application to annul the results of the 12 June elections. The coalition argued that the elections had rigged by the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) of President Bakili Muluzi by, among others, printing extra ballot papers in Malawi in addition to those printed in Britain. An African diplomat in the capital, Lilongwe, told IRIN the inspection could lead to irregularities being uncovered. “There are claims that many ballot boxes were not properly sealed, which have fuelled suspicions that these might have been stuffed with fraudulent votes,” the diplomat said, adding that this could open the proverbial “can of worms”. The diplomat added that the coalition appears to be using this case as a forerunner to challenge the validity of Muluzi’s second term in office. “The opposition coalition seems intent on ensuring that Muluzi’s government is weakened and that it fails to effectively govern the poverty-stricken country.”