MEC Challenges Presidential Relocation Order in Court

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has rejected a directive issued by President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika ordering the commission to relocate its headquarters to Blantyre, opting instead to challenge the decision in court.

MEC has applied for a Judicial Review at the High Court, arguing that the presidential order infringes on the constitutional independence of the commission. At the same time, MEC has sought an injunction to restrain the government from implementing the relocation directive until the court determines the matter.

The order in question was issued in October last year, when President Mutharika directed that the headquarters of the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA), the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), and the Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) be moved back to Blantyre. The directive also stated that the Malawi Prisons Service headquarters would revert to Zomba.

President Mutharika said the move was intended to reverse decisions made by his predecessor, President Lazarus Chakwera, and to strategically realign and reallocate key government institutions in order to promote administrative balance and operational efficiency.

Meanwhile, efforts to obtain legal guidance from the Attorney General on the matter are still ongoing. According to MEC, advice from Attorney General Frank Mbeta is yet to be received.