Dear Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe,
It is with deep concern that we address your Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum’s (CSEIF) recent comments discrediting the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) over the alleged missing records in the preliminary voter’s register. As a platform with the responsibility to engage on national issues, it is disheartening to witness your organization issuing reckless and irresponsible statements, seemingly more focused on impressing donors than understanding the complexities of the electoral process.
Your accusation that missing records raise questions about MEC’s transparency, integrity, and credibility is not only premature but dangerous. Electoral processes are sensitive by nature, and your careless remarks risk fueling unrest among those who may ultimately lose elections, encouraging them to claim foul play based on such misguided assertions. If your organization operated with the maturity and insight expected from a body tasked with overseeing election integrity, you would recognize that preliminary voter registration is a work in progress, much like a draft dissertation, subject to revision and correction before being finalized.
The MEC has clearly communicated this reality, with their Director of Media and Public Relations emphasizing in a March 14, 2025, statement that the data is preliminary subject to correction of any observed error and that it will be scrutinized by voters, political parties, and observers. Yet, CSEIF irresponsibly chooses to stir up concerns about transparency without regard for the facts.
Your lack of experience in electoral matters is apparent, Mr. Kondowe. While you have a background in educational activism, you have demonstrated little understanding of how electoral processes function. A truly informed civil society organization would have consulted historical precedents, such as the 11th December 2018 press statement from the then MEC Chairperson Dr. Jane Ansah, which outlined similar challenges in the preliminary voter register and how they were resolved. Dr. Jane Ansah stated on pages 3-4 of the mentioned statement, which you can easily retrieve from Sangwani Mwafulirwa’s Google Groups emailโassuming you are a serious CSO.
“๐ป๐๐ค๐๐ฃ๐๐, ๐ท๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐. ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ ๐โ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ก ๐ค๐๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐กโ๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก๐. ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ (๐๐๐๐ค๐ 1) ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ก ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ. ๐โ๐ ๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐ ๐โ๐๐ ๐ 1 ๐ค๐๐ 302,623. ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐ค ๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ 310,034.”
The above premise therefore shows that errors at this stage are not uncommon, nor do they imply misconduct. Your reckless attempt to undermine MEC’s credibility over minor discrepancies is not only unprofessional but potentially dangerous. Malawi is our only home, and while we encourage advocacy for electoral integrity, we also demand fairness and responsibility in your criticism. Careless remarks could spark unrest, and CSEIF must not be the catalyst for needless turmoil.
Sincerely,
Joana Moyo (Feedback: moyojoana@gmail.com)
