Lilongwe, Malawi — The High Court sitting in Lilongwe has dismissed an application by Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Symon Kaunda Jnr, who sought to annul or set aside the election results for Salima Central Constituency. The ruling effectively confirms Gerald Kapiseni Phiri of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) as the duly elected Member of Parliament for the area.
Delivering his determination, High Court Judge Bruno Kalemba ruled that the evidence presented before the court was “insufficient and lacked the necessary legal weight” to warrant the removal or review of the constituency’s election results.
Kaunda Jnr had asked the court to re-examine the outcome of the parliamentary race, alleging irregularities in the conduct and tallying of votes. However, after a detailed assessment of the submissions, the court found that the claims were not substantiated and did not meet the legal threshold required to nullify an election result.
Judge Kalemba emphasized that petitions challenging election outcomes must present clear, credible, and compelling evidence, noting that courts cannot overturn the will of voters based on speculation or unverified allegations.
“The petitioner failed to demonstrate, through concrete evidence, that the alleged irregularities materially affected the final result. The court therefore upholds the declared outcome,” Judge Kalemba stated.
With the dismissal of the petition, Gerald Kapiseni Phiri remains the legitimately elected MCP Member of Parliament for Salima Central—a position now reaffirmed by both the Malawi Electoral Commission and the judiciary.
Political observers say the ruling further strengthens MCP’s position in the district and underscores the judiciary’s stance on safeguarding electoral integrity by demanding robust evidence before interfering with outcomes determined by voters.
The decision marks a significant victory for MCP and closes yet another chapter in the post-election disputes arising from the recent parliamentary polls.
