The Supreme Court of Appeal had set April 15 as the day on which hearing of an appeal case in which the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is challenging the February 3 Constitutional Court ruling which nullified the May 21 presidential polls.

MEC has hired South African lawyers to represent it in the case.

But the arrival of the attorneys remains in doubtful following a lockdown that South Africa is facing currently.

The lawyers were also expected to undergo a 14 day quarantine before interacting with the public as they are coming from Corona Virus hotspot.

MEC Chief Elections Officer Sam Alfandika says the two attorneys were expected in the country on April 8 but their arrival is uncertain as there are no flights connecting Malawi and South Africa at the moment.

Alfandika further said Corona Virus has also affected the possibility of printing ballot papers from abroad, following grounding of flights.

“We are waiting for directive from government on the matter but we at the moment their arrival is still in limbo,” said Alfandika.

MEC hired the South African lawyers at the cost of 600 million, a cost which some quarters argued was exorbitant.