Malawi’s President Banda declares Malawi election ‘null and void’

A Malawian army soldier stands guard while hundreds of residents from Ndirande township queue to vote as voting procedures are repeated after polling were disrupted yesterday, on May 21, 2014 in Blantyre, PHOTO | AFP  

In Summary

Banda, who has claimed there were “serious irregularities” with the poll, declared fresh elections should be held within 90 days but said she would not stand as a candidate, to “give Malawians a free and fair” election.

 

Blantyre. Malawi’s President Joyce Banda on Saturday declared this week’s chaotic election “null and void” and called for a fresh vote, throwing the impoverished nation into crisis.

Banda, who has claimed there were “serious irregularities” with the poll, declared fresh elections should be held within 90 days but said she would not stand as a candidate, to “give Malawians a free and fair” election.

“As president I have used the powers conferred upon me from the constitution to declare the elections null and void,” she said in remarks broadcast on radio.

Malawi’s opposition leader Peter Mutharika quickly reacted to the developmenet saying it was “illegal”.

“Nothing in the constitution gives the president powers to cancel an election,” said Mutharika, who partial results showed was well ahead of Banda in the polls. “This is clearly illegal, unconstitutional and not acceptable.”

There were chaotic scenes at the tally centre in Blantyre when word went around that the poll had been nullified, with police ordering a shutdown of the tally centre.

Banda alleged people had voted multiple times, ballots had been tampered with, presiding officers arrested, and the computerised voter counting system collapsed.

Mutharika rejected the charge, telling reporters the “people have spoken and this was a free and credible election.”

“Allegations of rigging are not founded. I have never heard anywhere in the world where an opposition can rig an election,” he said.

“I hope the president abandons the path she has taken,” Mutharika said. “As citizens we should not take this country on the path of destruction and everyone should remain calm until results are announced.”

“Whoever has won should take over the government and start the process of rebuilding the country.”

Her supporters have alleged that her chief adversary Peter Mutharika -- who is already facing pre-election treason charges -- may be behind the irregularities.