The Supreme Court of Appeal has cancelled the parliamentary election results for Balaka Mulunguzi Constituency, bringing an immediate end to the term of the declared winner.
The case was brought by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate James Makhumula, who challenged the results, saying there were serious irregularities during the election.
In its ruling, a panel of nine judges led by Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda said the High Court made mistakes in how it handled and analysed the evidence presented.
The Supreme Court found that there was enough evidence to show that the election process in the constituency may have been compromised. The judges highlighted problems in how results were recorded, managed, and verified.
They also pointed out several inconsistencies in official documents, saying these raised serious doubts about the credibility of the final results.
The court further criticised the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) for failing to properly explain these irregularities, saying the Commission did not do enough to account for the discrepancies raised in court.
As a result of the ruling, Irene Mambala, independent candidate, has immediately lost her position as Member of Parliament for the constituency.
Reacting to the judgment, Makhumula’s lawyer, Khumbo Bonzoe Soko, said the decision is a win for justice and accountability in elections.
He said the ruling shows that elections are not only about numbers, but also about fairness, transparency, and credibility.
The court has also ordered that Makhumula be paid legal costs for both the High Court case and the appeal.
Following this decision, a fresh election is expected to be held in Balaka Mulunguzi Constituency, in line with Malawi’s electoral laws.
This ruling means a new election will be held in Balaka Mulunguzi Constituency.
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