Malawi

BLANTYRE (Reuters) - Malawians queued up to vote on Tuesday in a re-run of a discredited poll that has become a test case for the ability of African courts to tackle vote fraud and restrain presidential power.

Malawi’s judiciary infuriated President Peter Mutharika, in power since 2014, when it overturned his narrow victory in February over “systematic and grave” irregularities.

BLANTYRE (Malawi), May 29 (NNN-AGENCIES) — About 400 people have escaped from a coronavirus quarantine centre in Malawi’s second-largest city, Blantyre, after complaining about its poor state.

Local media has reported that the escapees were quarantined on arrival from South Africa and were yet to be tested for Coronavirus.

They had complained that the stadium, which was turned into a quarantine centre, lacked water, toilets and food.

The government has not commented on the escape.

LILONGWE, Feb 8 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malawi’s President Peter Mutharika and the country’s electoral commission have formally filed an appeal against a court ruling that overturned his win last year.

“I can confirm that the court has received both appeals by first respondent [the president] and second respondent [electoral commission],” High Court Registrar Agnes Patemba said.

BLANTYRE (Reuters) - Malawi’s presidency on Wednesday said it would appeal a court ruling overturning the election result that returned Peter Mutharika to power, saying that it cannot be allowed to stand.

Presidential spokesman Mgeme Kalirani said the presidency had assembled papers for the appeal against the ruling.

“The ruling by (the) ... court cannot be allowed to stand ... it will create a lot of problems in the country’s jurisprudence,” Kalirani said in a statement.

“It is a great miscarriage of justice.”

LILONGWE, Feb 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Malawi’s constitutional court ordered a new presidential election after annulling the results of a vote that re-elected President Peter Mutharika in May, citing widespread polling irregularities, including the use of correction fluid on ballot papers.

The verdict, which is expected to stoke turmoil in the traditionally peaceful southern African country, can be appealed by Mutharika, who will remain president until the fresh polls.

LILONGWE, Nov 3 (NNN-AFRICANEWS) — Malawi’s constitutional court has suspended its requirement that lawyers and judges wear traditional white wigs and black robes in the courtroom as an early season heatwave sweeps the southern African nation.

Temperatures in some parts of the country have hit 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) this week, the country’s Department of Meteorological Services said.

Malawi, a former British protectorate, still follows the British legal system, with the wearing of wigs and robes a requirement for judges and lawyers.

Blantyre, Oct 7 (AFP) The battle against corruption in the poor southern African state of Malawi has turned a shy, diminutive omsbudswoman, Martha Chizuma, into a popular icon.

The quietly confident former magistrate and registrar of the High Court, appointed public protector in December 2015 when she was only 36, is the youngest person and only the second woman to hold the office.

26 May 2019; DW: Malawi's High Court has ordered a partial election recount following complaints from the main opposition party of vote-rigging. The Electoral Council has been ordered not to announce results.

Malawi's High Court has received a total of 147 complaints from some of the parties involved in Tuesday's vote.

Lilongwe, May 21 (AFP/PTI) Malawi goes to the polls on Tuesday after a closely-fought election campaign, with President Peter Mutharika battling to hold off two serious rivals in a race that focused on corruption allegations and economic development.

Mutharika, who has been in power since 2014, will face opposition from his own deputy Saulos Chilima and former baptist preacher Lazarus Chakwera.

UNITED NATIONS, March 13 (Xinhua) -- Relief efforts are underway in southern Africa after recent rains caused at least 60 deaths and affected nearly 843,000 people in Mozambique and Malawi, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday.

"Our humanitarian colleagues report that flooding in Malawi and Mozambique has affected nearly 843,000 people and caused at least 60 deaths, according to preliminary reports from the respective governments," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.