Gangata appeals election petition judgement

Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Alfred Gangata has appealed against a High Court of Malawi ruling that allowed an election petition challenging his victory in Lilongwe City Mtandire-Mtsiriza Constituency. He also wants the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal to put aside implementation of the High Court decision pending determination of the appeal. Gangata says he is dissatisfied with the High Court’s ruling and believes the Supreme Court is likely to overturn it.

Reads the application in part: “I believe that it is in the interests of proper case management that a stay be issued.” In May this year, High Court Judge William Yakuwawa Msiska dismissed Gangata’s application to strike out a petition filed by Malawi Congress Party candidate George Zulu challenging results of the parliamentary race in the area during the September 16 2025 General Election. Gangata argued that High Court Judge Simeon Mdeza had already determined the matter when he ruled on his earlier challenge to the Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) decision to nullify the constituency election. Zulu opposed the application, and on May 20 2026, the court dismissed it.

Zulu, through his lawyer Wanangwa Munkhondia, is opposing the stay application, arguing that it is defective because it does not cite the statutory provision under which it was made. In his petition, Zulu argues that MEC failed to investigate several serious irregularities before declaring Gangata the winner, contending that the election outcome could have been different had those issues been properly considered. On November 20 2025, MEC, in compliance with a High Court order, declared Gangata the winner of the constituency after he polled 12 369 votes against Zulu’s 12 360.

[paywall]

Ruth Chingwalu received 1 610 votes, UTM Party candidate Elsie Mituka collected 1 313 and Aford candidate Linda Phiri amassed 97. MEC also rejected Zulu’s request for a recount.

[/paywall]