Jane Ansah


Justice Jane Mayemu Ansah, S.C. is the former chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission. She is also a former Malawian Supreme Court Judge and was the first female Attorney General in Malawi. She is most known for her role as the head of the Malawi's Electoral Commission during the 2019 elections. Her role in this position sparked national protests both in support and in opposition to her role due to election irregularities resulting in protestors calling her resignation.

Work

She served as a High Court judge in December 1998. She then served as Attorney General of Malawi from 2006 to 2011. She was appointed as the Supreme Court of Appeals judge in 2011. She was appointed to Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission in October of 2016 succeeding Justice Maxon Mbendera.

2019 Malawi elections

She was accused of mismanaging the 2019 Malawian general election which led to the Jane Ansah Must Fall campaign in which nation-wide anti-Jane Ansah protests calling for her resignation occurred in June and July 2019. A group of women, led by Seodi White and Minister of Gender Mary Navicha argued that Ansah was a victim of sexism and gender discrimination. They staged a counter protests that were in solidarity of Jane Ansah and her role in the elections. Thousands of women marched in defense of her role in the elections, many wearing shirts written "I am Jane Ansah".

Resignation

On 21 May 2020, Ansah announced her resignation as chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission and on 22 May 2020 President Arthur Peter Mutharika accepted her resignation. On 7 June 2020, President Mutharika appointed Justice Dr. Chifundo Kachale as the new MEC chairperson replacing Ansah.