Maneb spokesperson Mayamiko Chiwaya said the fake certificate is also going to be tendered in court, Blantyre, as evidence.

“After examining the MSCE certificate which MEC presented to us, we discovered that it was fake, it was forged. The certificate will be provided in the court as evidence,” said Chiwaya.

Osman is currently on police bail.

MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said Osman presented the fake certificate to dodge a proficiency test of reading and speaking English.

“We received a complaint that Mr. Osman presented a fake MSCE certificate so we presented the certificate to Maneb who confirmed that the certificate was indeed fake,” said Mwafulirwa.

Mwafulirwa said the commission is still investigating other candidates.

“We will disqualify any candidate who flouts the laws and rules even a day before the election,” said Mwafulirwa.

The MEC publicist said there will be no substitution for the candidate.