(c) to participate in peaceful political activity’ intended to influence the composition and policies of the Government; and (d) (2) freely to make political choices. The State shall, provide funds so as to ensure that, during the life ofany Parliament, any political party’ which has secured more than one-tenth of the national vote in elections to that Parliament has sufficient funds to continue to represent its constituency. (3) Save as otherwise provided in this Constitution, every person shall have the right to vote, to do so in secret and to stand for election for any elective office.". The nature of this matter The first appellant, the first respondent and the second respondent, were among the contestants for the office of President in the 21st May, 2019 general election. On 27th May, 2019, the Commission declared the first appellant the winner in the elections. As we state earlier, the first and the second respondents were dissatisfied with that outcome. For that reason, they separately petitioned the Court below, under section 100 of the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act. Their respective petitions are set out in full a little later in this judgment. The first respondent’s petition was placed before Justice Mrs. Chinangwa, while the second respondent’s petition was placed before Justice Mr. Mkandawire. The two petitions related to the same election and would most likely follow the same path in court. For that reason, the two petitions, were consolidated. Upon further scrutiny of what the Court was being called upon to deal with, the Court, at the onset, found that the consolidated petitions expressly and substantially related to, or concerned the 7