Muluzi complains to EC on poll rigging

Atupele Austin Muluzi has written the Electoral Commission (EC) to complain about the way the electoral process was handled in Machinga North-East where he was contesting for a parliamentary seat.

Muluzi, a son to former Malawi President says he formerly launched an electoral complaint to the commission as provided by section 76(1)(c) of the Republican constitution.

Writes Muluzi, "Records of results obtained from the tally centers after the close of polls clearly show I had won the parliamentary race with a wide margin to my nearest competitor who was competing on an independent ticket."

But he raises his concern saying "I am disappointed to learn however that officials at the District tally center have been refusing to announce the results indicated in the records and further that the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is announcing that the candidate for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been officially declared the winner."

Muluzi, a lawyer by profession and former chairperson of the Legal Committee of Parliament, further alleges that ballot papers from various centers have also been unnecessarily delayed and this has heightened his suspicion of tampering.

"The process is to say the least becoming farcical and I am convinced that this an attempt to rig the result in favour of another candidate," observes Muluzi adding, "I therefore request that the Electoral Commission investigates this matter without delay and I patiently await your response."

In an interview with Best of Malawi, the EC chairperson Justice Anastasia Msosa said the commission had seen the letter and would address the issues raised accordingly.

"We are receiving a lot of complaints and our position is that the commission will deal with all these matters accordingly," said Msosa.