The High Court in Blantyre has shifted its ruling on Mangochi West Constituency elections case to December 20 2019.
Judge Sylvester Kalembera had earlier set December 2 to rule on the matter.
Wester Kosamu, lawyer for independent aspiring Member of Parliament for the area, Simeon Harrison, who is contesting the results, confirmed the development.
“We have not been given reasons for the shift but we believe that the court is busy with other equally important engagements,” he said.
Harrison is disputing Malawi Electoral Commission’s declaration that Geoffrey Chiwondo of the Democratic Progressive Party won the elections.
Among other witnesses, Harrison paraded the area’s Constituency Returning Officer, Francis Meleka, who told the court that the area’s presiding officer declared Harrison the winner.
Setting December 2 as the day of the ruling after hearing the case, Kalembera ordered the parties to make their final submissions within 14 days of resting their cases.
Chiwondo’s lawyer, Cassius Chodothe, had called three witnesses, Lyton Matewere, who was Chiwondo’s monitor at the Constituency Tally Centre, Charles Lapozo who was Chiwondo’s monitor at Makunula Polling Centre and Lyson Mussa who was the monitor for independent candidate Joyce Moses Chikumba again at the same Makunula Polling Centre.
Contrary to what Meleka told the court that he declared Harrison winner, Matewere said Meleka did not announce results of the elections saying the situation was volatile.