The High Court has allowed a judicial review case against the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to proceed, dismissing the state’s challenge.
The High Court in Blantyre has ruled that a judicial review case against the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) will proceed, dismissing attempts by the state to block it.
Delivering its ruling this afternoon, the court upheld permission earlier granted to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the UTM Party, and others to challenge three key electoral decisions by MEC: restricting access to audit Electronic Management Devices (EMDs), unilateral voter identification decisions, and the use of electronic results transmission.
Speaking after the ruling, lawyer for the claimants, Felix Tambulasi, expressed satisfaction, saying the court has cleared the way for substantive issues to be heard.
He noted that despite repeated objections from the defendants, the court directed that the main judicial review will be heard on Monday at 10am.
On his part, attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda has indicated his office will contemplate on whether to appeal the direction.
last month MEC through Attorney general Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda asked the court to dismiss the entire matter.
“There was no particular anomaly with the law that the applicants cited, alleging that MEC flouted,” Nyirenda said.
Meanwhile, the court has accepted an application by Malawi Law Society to be friends of court.
