Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has suspended 13 presiding officers for Phalombe Central Constituency for their involvement in receiving gifts from a candidate.

 MEC Chairperson Maxon Mbendera confirmed of the suspension.

 “We were tipped that one of the candidates contesting for a position in Phalombe Central Constituency offered gifts to the recruited presiding officers in the area.

 “The Commission took up the issue and did a thorough investigation where it has come out that the officers indeed received the gifts,” he said.

 According to MEC chair, the presiding officers received bicycles, mosquito nets, boxes of chalk and K5,000 from one of the candidates contesting in the constituency which is contrary to the Elections Act.

 The presiding officers which includes head teachers have been since replaced with their deputies.

 The forthcoming tripartite election has been marred by numerous irregularities.