Environmental News For The Week Ending 23May 2019
This is a collection of interesting news articles about the environment and related topics published last week. This is usually a Tuesday evening regular post at
GEI (but can be posted at other times).
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Note: Because of the high volume of news regarding the coronavirus outbreak, that news has been published separately:
Covid totals continue to fall, both in the US and worldwide. New US cases during the week ending May 22nd were down 22.0% from those testing positive during the week ending May 15th, and down 64.2% from our mid-April surge high; this week s new cases were also the lowest for a 7 day period since that ending June 19th of last year. US deaths attributed to Covid this week were down 7.1% from the prior week, and less than a sixth of the death rate during the peak weeks of January. US Covid deaths were also the lowest since t
Nkhata Bay Central Constituency fell vacant after court nullification of 2019 results
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is set to hold by-elections for Nkhata Bay Constituency and two wards, Chikwembere in Blantyre North and Lalanje in Nsanje Lalanje constituencies.
The post for Nkhata Bay Central Constituency, that was declared from the 2019 tripartite elections results as having been won Simon Vuwa Kaunda, fell vacant after court nullification while the Councillors for the two wards died.
Acting Chief Elections Officer, Harris Potani
Constituencies that have been nullified by the courts since 2019 include Mangochi West; Mangochi North East; Phalombe North; Chikwawa East; Nsanje North and Nsanje Central.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), which is currently embroiled in management issues bordering on political disagreements with its stakeholders, has just been hit with the resignation of its Chief Elections Officer, Sam Alfandika.
A statement from MEC chairperson, Justice Chifundo Kachale, SC did not indicate reasons of resignation of this high-ranking electoral officer only indicated that they received Alfandika’s notice of resignation on Monday, April 26.
Justice Kachale said Alfandika has “already proceeded on his accrued annual leave pending the effective operation of the resignation [and] in the meantime, the Commission shall be meeting to discuss the relevant modalities for filling the vacancy arising from this development, bearing in mind the critical role of this office in the effective discharge of our business at all levels”.
Sources say Alfandika has resigned because he has picked up an international job.
Alfandika was among the team that managed the May 2019 Presidential polls which was annulled by the Constitutional Court.
More details to follow..
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Alfandika Resigns As MEC Chief Elections Officer
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chief Elections Officer, Sam Alfandika has resigned from his position.
According to Nation Online, Alfandika has resigned from the post after securing a job as United Nations (UN) position as an international elections advisor.
Meanwhile, MEC chairperson Chifundo Kachale, in a statement, says the commission will soon be meeting to discuss on how the vacancy will be filled.
Alfandika holds a Master of Arts in Economics and a Bachelor of Social Science Degree from the University of Malawi.
He previously worked in the Office of the President and Cabinet and Malawi Social Action Fund, before joining the Malawi Electoral Commission.