The Senior Resident Magistrate’s court in Lilongwe has found Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) Warehouse Manager Diverson Makwete with a case to answer on two perjury counts.

Makwete is being accused of lying under oath during proceedings of 2019 election case.

“What came out from our evidence that we paraded in court was that to begin with the accused person did swear two sworn statements which were filed in the elections case and in those sworn statements. He had made statements to say all the materials that had to be deposited with the Clerk of Parliament in accordance with the electoral laws had been deposited.

Subsequently he did file another sworn statement that he had made an error in that they were certain materials that were still with Electoral Commission at the said date. And that he wasn’t aware at the time he was making the initial statement that the materials had not yet been deposited,” said Grace Wasili, Senior State Advocate.

Lawyer representing the accused – Gilbert Khonyongwa has since told the court that the Makwete will parade two witnesses to defend his case.

“We pray that the court give us more time, at least two weeks to prepare our defense case. We have two witnesses to testify including the accused himself,” he said.

Magistrate Florence Msekandiana has adjourned hearing of the defense case to August 4, 2022.