The Constitutional Court of Malawi has commenced hearing of a presidential election petition seeking to nullify the re-election of Peter Authur Mutharika. The Malawi Electoral Commission had declared Mutharika as the winner of the May 21 polls. However, a coalition of opposition parties petitioned a High Court to put an injunction on the final declaration, which suit was dismissed by the court.
The case escalated to the Constitutional Court when opposition leader Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party, MCP, and former vice-president Saulos Chilima, filed a petition challenging the re-election of the incumbent president. Five judges have been empanelled to hear the case. The proceedings are broadcast live on radio and TV, a decision analysts believe marks a big win for democracy and media freedoms.
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