Malawi will hold fresh presidential elections on 23 June after the May 2019 poll was declared null and void because of widespread vote rigging – and a complete failure by AU, EU and Commonwealth observers to call foul. But the new election is being held with Covid-19 travel restrictions in place.
We failed the people of Malawi when Africa, through its observers, gave the election of 21 May 2019 its blessing. We ought to have paid greater attention to what took place in that most important of activities in a democratic state – the exercising of the will of the people.
The judgment read: “We hold that first respondent was not duly elected as president of Malawi. As a result, we hereby order nullification of the elections. We further order that a fresh election be held in accordance to the law and pursuant to directions we will make.” We must salute their principled professionalism and integrity especially under extreme political pressure.
There is a very grave apprehension that this second election may be as flawed as the first unless ways are found to shine the spotlight on voting along with result collation, transmission and declaration.African leaders – and indeed global leaders – need to find ways to prevent the closing down of the democratic space lest we wake up after Covid-19 and find that our continent has slid back towards authoritarian governance.
The legitimacy and success of Malawi’s election is essential if we are to strengthen the movement towards democracy and legitimate governance on the African continent.
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