By Burnett Munthali
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is currently facing 83 petitions in the High Court of Malawi, filed by losing parliamentary aspirants across 83 of the declared 224 constituencies, it has emerged.
The petitions followed MEC’s declaration of results for the parliamentary races in the September 16, 2025 General Election, with official results announced on October 1, 2025.
Ruth Mputeni, the judiciary chief corporate affairs and public relations officer, confirmed that 41 cases are at the Lilongwe District Registry, 22 at the Principal Registry in Blantyre, 15 at the Zomba Registry, and five at the Mzuzu Registry.
She stated that the courts are prepared to handle the petitions expeditiously in line with electoral laws, ensuring timely adjudication.
Of the 83 cases, 33 were filed between October 1 and 10, after MEC announced official results, while 50 petitions were lodged before the official declaration. All cases have been assigned to judges for consideration.
Prominent politicians seeking legal redress include DPP Eastern Region Vice-President Bright Msaka and McDonald Makanjira, who are challenging the victory of UDF candidate Tulinje Muluzi in Machinga Likwenu Constituency.
Similarly, MCP Second Deputy President Abida Sidik Mia is contesting the declaration of DPP candidate Lloyd Malola as winner in Chikwawa Mkombezi Constituency, while DPP Central Region Vice-President Alfred Gangata has petitioned against MCP candidate George Zulu and MEC over the Lilongwe City Mtandire-Mtsiriza results.
Other disputes involve independent candidate Joseph Manguluti against former Finance Minister Symplex Chithyola Banda in Kasungu South, DPP candidate Lizzie Ndomondo versus MCP Secretary-General Richard Chimwendo Banda in Dowa East, and independents Rashid Abdul Gaffar and Alex Chimwala against DPP’s Veronica Ndalama in Blantyre City South Lunzu.
In her petition, Ndomondo accused Chimwendo Banda of intimidating monitors and distributing prohibited handouts, despite Chimwendo Banda being declared winner with 22,111 votes to her 3,997 votes.
Additional cases include MCP’s Juma Khamisa challenging DPP’s Chimwemwe Chipungu in Luchenza Municipality and independent Thom Njirika contesting UDF’s Ishmael Mkumba in Blantyre Ndirande-Nyambadwe-Malabada, citing vote-buying and collusion with polling officials.
High Court Judge Joseph Chigona has scheduled hearings for October 29, 2025, to address Njirika’s petition.
In a separate case, the High Court dismissed an application by Ramuzan Juma Mahomed, who sought to suspend the swearing-in of DPP’s Thomson Kamangira in Nsanje South after MEC initially reversed the declaration in Mahomed’s favor.
Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum chairperson Benedicto Kondowe observed that the number of electoral disputes has increased compared to previous elections, reflecting growing public awareness and proper use of legal channels for grievances.
Centre for Multiparty Democracy Executive Director Boniface Chibwana commended the Judiciary for its timely handling of electoral cases and called for expedited disposal of remaining petitions that could affect declared parliamentary and local government results.
During the announcement of results, MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja, a High Court judge, explained that MEC reviewed void votes in constituencies including Mzimba South East, Nkhata Bay Central, Mchinji South West, Salima South, and Lilongwe Msinja North.
She confirmed that all complaints during polling and tallying were reviewed and documented in the Malawi Government Gazette, the official government publication.
Out of 229 constituencies, MEC declared results in 224 constituencies, leaving five—Lilongwe City Bwaila, Lilongwe City Mtandire-Mtsiriza, Dedza Mtakataka, Nkhotakota Liwaladzi, and Blantyre West—vacant due to nullifications, postponements, or irregularities.
The surge in petitions signals a robust exercise of democratic rights and the courts’ central role in upholding the integrity of Malawi’s electoral process.
