By Misheck Msumba
University of Livingstonia(UNILIA) political scientist expert, George Phiri has argued that a Constitutional court(Concourt) verdict delivered on February 3 2020 did not solve current political tension in the country.
Speaking to Face of Malawi on Tuesday Phiri said the Concourt did not address political issue. He argues that the Concourt was to address Constitutional questions pertaining to election case before it.
“Technically, the Constitutional court was not instituted to deal with a political question. It was instituted to deal with irregularities election questions.” Phiri said
He however said partly the Concourt ruling has reduced the political tension in the country. He said there is some connection between the Concourt ruling and political tension.
“When the Concourt delivered it’s judgement, we see that the tension across the country has reduced. Because Malawians see that their interest has been vindicated.
“And they do not want that to be destroyed,” Phiri added.
He has attributed to the current political tension in the country to Malawi Electoral Commission’s(MEC) declaring President Peter Mutharika as a winner in the nullified May 2019 polls. He has however, condemned decision of president Peter Mutharika and MEC for resolving to appeal the case. Saying this might resurface political tension in the country as the appeal case has been done with minority interest group of people.
“The appeal case I do not know it’s basic. Because I have not seen an alarm from public protesting the Concourt ruling. If the people felt that their Constitutional right has been violated, we could have seen people rising up against the ruling.
“Because people’s interest has been vindicated by the Concourt ruling. So those doing appeal are doing for who,?” He questioned.
When this reporter asked Phiri solution to the political tension in the country, Phiri said the fresh election will bring peace in the country because citizens will choose a leader of their choice. So it is only when the citizens choose the leader of their choice is when peace will return in the country.
However, one of the Malawians, Rabecca Mkomera feels that the Constitutional court has resolved political tension in the country. As she has seen peace across the country.
“As a Malawian, I think the Concourt ruling brought peace in the country. Because people are happy with the ruling. After the Concourt delivered it’s ruling, we saw that there was quite in the country. Many people are happy.” Mkomera said.
The Constitutional court delivered a historical presidential election ruling on February 3 2020, in which it nullified May 2019 presidential election poll results, citing numerous irregularities such as the use of Tippex results sheets, dublicates results sheets among others. The Constitutional court delivered a historical presidential election ruling on February 3 2020, in which it nullified May 2019 presidential election poll results, citing numerous irregularities such as the use of tippex results sheets, dublicates sheets, among others.
Malawi Congress Party(MCP) President and UTM president Saulos Chilima filed petitions to the High Court in May 2019 after not being satisfied with the results declared by MEC.
