Some residents of Balaka Mulunguzi Constituency are demanding yet another parliamentary by-election, claiming the June 30 fresh poll was marred by irregularities.
The controversy traces back to April this year when the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the 16 September, 2025 parliamentary election results for Balaka Mulunguzi following a successful appeal by Democratic Progressive Party candidate James Makhumula, who challenged the outcome, citing alleged irregularities in how results were handled.
Delivering the judgment, a nine-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda, found that the High Court had misdirected itself in its treatment of crucial evidence. The court ruled that the record showed a prima facie case of serious irregularities, especially in the recording, transmission, and verification of results.
The judges further observed that inconsistencies in official electoral documents were significant enough to cast doubt on the credibility of the declared outcome.
Following the ruling, Ireen Mambala, an independent candidate who had initially been declared winner, immediately ceased to be Member of Parliament, paving the way for the June 30 fresh by-election which saw Makhumula declared winner.
However, some of the residents are calling for the nullification of the latest results again, insisting that the process was not free from serious flaws.
One of the petitioners, James Tomasi, said they have evidence pointing to misconduct on polling day. Another petitioner, Numeri Petro Bishop, echoed similar concerns, insisting that the process was compromised and could not be allowed to stand.
The residents have since petitioned the Malawi Electoral Commission and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
However, the declared winner, James Makhumula, has dismissed the allegations, calling them “laughable” and an attempt to discredit a legitimate victory.
The Malawi Electoral Commission, through Director of Media and Public Relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa, said the institution will respond later on the matter, while Registrar of Political Parties Dr. Kizito Tenthani said he is yet to receive the formal complaints from the Balaka Mulunguzi constituents.
