The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has warned against any conduct contrary to the electoral laws in the forthcoming by-elections for Zomba -Chisi Constituency in Zomba.
MEC Commissioner, Dr. Wellington Nakanga sounded the warning during the launch of Zomba Chisi constituency by-election slated for 22nd December when he briefed stakeholders that included political party leaders, the media, NICE officials and other NGOs, MEC staff and the District Election Supervisory Team (DEST) and Party Members.
Commissioner Nakanga said no person from other constituencies will be allowed to register adding chiefs are advised not to cheat to give false certification of persons from other places other than from Zomba Chisi Constituency warning it shall attract stiffer punishment.
“Let me warn you that it is also an offence to register more than once at any center and any one found shall be arrested and if convicted will pay a sum of K500, 000.00 and at the same time serve two years Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL),” he explained.
Nakanga also warned political leaders to desist from using the youth to unleash violence during the campaign period saying MEC shall not tolerate any such behaviors asking the police to take stiffer action according to the laws.
Responding to a question on whether education qualification was one of the criteria for one to compete as a candidate in the by-election, Nakanga said the court had already ruled in one case in Mzimba that JCE, MSCE, Diploma or Degree do not qualify one for nomination as a candidate in a general election in the country.
He therefore, described as a good development that there are educated members of Parliament in the Assembly saying in the coming by-election the laws allow anyone who is a citizen of Malawi and will have attained 21 years at the time of nomination (by 1st December, 2015) to contest. He said he or she should also be able to read and speak English and should be a registered voter.
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