The UTM Party has barred leaders of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) from attending a memorial ceremony for the late Vice President Saulos Chilima. According to Malawi24, UTM stated that the decision was made to prevent potential unrest and preserve the dignity of the commemorative event.
Update: The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has been ordered to immediately vacate its offices at Development House in Lilongwe after failing to respond to a tenancy renewal offer, according to Nyasa Times and Malawi24. Property managers MPICO, representing Capital Developments Limited, issued an eviction letter following the expiration of an accommodation offer on May 10. The eviction compounds the ongoing controversy and logistical pressures surrounding the electoral body's planned relocation to Blantyre.
In legal developments, the Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed an appeal by Illovo Sugar (Malawi) PLC in a tax dispute with the Malawi Revenue Authority. Malawi24 reports that the court ruled the company lacked legal standing to challenge non-resident tax obligations belonging to two South African firms. The judgment clarified that Illovo was merely acting as a withholding agent under the Taxation Act, rather than a representative taxpayer entitled to challenge the substantive tax liability.