By Draxon Maloya
In a landmark ruling, Judge Justus Kishindo of the Mzuzu High Court waived the legal costs that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and others would have incurred in a parliamentary primary elections case.
The case was brought forth by Trade Minister Engineer Vitumbiko Mumba, who challenged the results of the MCP primary elections held on January 11 for the Mzimba Central Constituency.
Mumba’s lawyer, Counsel Khumbo Soko, argued that the defendants should bear the legal costs, describing the case as “shambolic” and lacking good faith.
However, the court ultimately spared the MCP and others from paying these costs.
Despite this, Counsel Soko expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that it upheld the fundamental principles of natural justice and maintained the credibility of the electoral process.
“With the process, the party and others were supposed to meet legal charges in this shambolic process which could not be defended in any manner, that the outcome supported the integrity of the electoral process,” Soko said.
However, despite this ruling, the court did not specify a timeframe for when the Mzimba Central Constituency’s by-election will be held.
