One of the lawyers of first petitioner, Khumbo Soko has told Zodiak online that both legal teams are yet to get their payment and no commitment has been made so far that the money might be paid within a specified period.

MEC was ordered to pay first petitioner, 2.3 billion kwacha, and 3 billion kwacha to second petitioner within a specified period of 45 days.

In her assessment on August 10, Registrar of High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal, Agnes Patemba ordered that the legal team for first petitioner in the Presidential Election case Dr Saulos Chilima be paid 2.3 billion kwacha legal fee for the Constitutional Court case and K877.7 million for the appeal case.

On the other hand, second petitioner, President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s lawyers, Patemba said they should be paid K3.08 billion for the Constitutional Court proceedings and K726.4 million for the appeal case filed by former president Peter Mutharika and MEC.

MEC was ordered to meet these costs within 45 days from August 10.

But one of the lawyers for the first petitioner, Khumbo Soko has told us that up to date they are yet to be paid.

Soko says there is no commitment that they will be paid anytime soon.

“We are yet to receive a penny from the MEC as directed by court. There is no sign of hope that the amount of the money will be emitted soon,” said Soko.

Malawi Law Society President, Burton Mhango says MEC is expected to pay the costs at by all means within the specified period of time.

“MEC is by law required to pay the two legal teams. In absence of an injunction to challenge the decision, MEC is compelled to abide by the order,” said Mhango.

Malawi Electoral Commission was not immediately available to comment on the matter.

The award comes after the two sets of legal teams collectively filed a K9 billion legal fees claim in April this year but the determination of August 10 was revised to 7 billion kwacha.

Dr. Chakwera, the second petitioner in the case, who teamed up with Dr. Chilima the first petitioner as his running mate, won the court-sanctioned fresh presidential election on June 23 after amassing 58 percent of the vote.