The Constitutional Court resumed hearing the presidential election result case in Lilongwe yesterday after a one-week long break with President Peter Mutharika’s first witness, Ben Phiri, telling the court that Tipp-Ex was used in the May 21 Tripartite Elections in order to do reconciliation of figures.

The court is expected to sit for two weeks from yesterday to December 6 when hearing of the electoral case is expected to end.

The case resumed with Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Senior Counsel, Modecai Msisha, asking Phiri why Tipp-Ex was used in the elections and if they had ascertained its use.

Phiri is Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Director of Elections.

In his response, Phiri said Tipp- Ex was used to do reconciliation.

“Had you ascertained whether in fact Tipp-Ex was being used to correct errors?” Msisha asked.

“My lady and my lords, yes I had and I did indicate earlier that it was used on the reconciliation part. Looking at some of the result sheets, the new number that appears there on the part of A to F one can tell whether the number is wrong or is right that was corrected,” Phiri said.

“Did you see what number was below the Tipp-Ex on the sheets that it was used,” Msisha asked.

“The number below that I could not see,” Phiri replied.

Mshisha also asked what Phiri discussed with Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec).

In his response, Phiri said he discussed with Mec about the use of correction fluid during the management of the results and reserved tally sheets.

Mutharika’s lawyer, Charles Mhango, objected to a cross reference by Msisha in which he wanted the witness to answer questions in reference to a sworn statement made by a Mec position.

Mutharika has two witnesses in the case while Mec is expected to parade three witnesses before the court concludes hearing the case on December 6 2019.

By Moses Nyirenda , Mana

 The Egyptian Embassy has awarded 14 undergraduate scholarships to youth in the country to pursue different university programmes in Egypt.

The scholarship awardees are expected to study programmes such as engineering, medicine, agriculture and commence.

Speaking on Friday in Lilongwe during the presentation of the scholarships Egyptian Ambassador to Malawi Hassan Shawky said the Egyptian Government is committed to support youth in Malawi.

“The Egyptian Government has introduced scholarship for the youth to study for five years in the field of engineering and medicine for them to enrich medical services and engineering future of Malawi,” Shawky said.

He further said the Egyptian Government, through its embassy in the country, is also striving to build capacity among local youth for them to be innovative and become financially independent.

One of the awardees Cynthia Kagwam’minga expressed gratitude for the scholarship to pursue engineering at Cairo University.

“The scholarship is an opportunity for me to study outside the country. It is my honour to be the first female to study engineering course in Cairo through the Egyptian Scholarship.

“Therefore, I will work hard to complete the course and come back here to serve my country,” she said.

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Francis Phiso commended the Egyptian Government through its embassy in the country for its gesture in supporting the youth.

He said the support is in line with the initiatives which Malawi Government is currently doing to empower the youth.

Phiso, therefore, advised the awardees to work hard and focus on studies for them to excel their courses.

Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) on Sunday held a solidarity citizen rally at Nsundwe popularly known as Msundwe Barracks community ground in rural Lilongwe.

The rally which attracted a huge crowd was attended by HRDC chairperson Timothy Mtambo, HRDC his deputy Gift Trapence and Central Region HRDC chairperson Billy Mayaya. 

Missing at the rally was Charles Kajoloweka and Reverend MacDonald Sembereka. 

Speaking during the citizen rally Mtambo praised people of Msundwe for being real freedom fighters. He said Malawi needs more people like those from Msundwe.  He said the coalition will develop a citizen manifesto where they will outline a number of issues that need to be addressed for the country to progress. He said since the country gained independence, Malawians have been languishing in abject poverty when some people in government are plundering public resources.

Mtambo then announced what he called the mother of all demonstrations to take place on December 10, 2019.

Mtambo has since invited people of Msundwe to go and take part in their large numbers as has been the case. 

Speaking earlier Trapence condemned the Democratic Progressive Party-led government for the rampant corruption.

“These people are sharing money like tomato this should stop,” he claimed.

Speaking earlier block leader one Mr Vaison asked government to release four residents of Msundwe who are still being held on remand at Maula prison.

The four were among 46 members who were arrested following the killing of police officer.