By Burnett Munthali

A leaked WhatsApp message allegedly from Mphatso Sambo, the Principal Secretary of the National Registration Bureau (NRB), has ignited a firestorm on social media, raising concerns over the deployment of newly recruited NRB staff and the potential involvement in election rigging.

According to the message, which has been widely circulated online, Sambo informed an unnamed government minister that the NRB had received instructions from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) to deploy the new staff to the Southern Region. Sambo expressed his concern about the potential consequences of this move, particularly given that many of the recruits are reportedly members of the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

His message reportedly reads: “His only fear is that, as the minister is aware most of them are MCP members and some of them take liquor, are they not going to one day expose us that we are behind some rigging schemes after getting drunk? Please address my fears before I deploy them.”

The message also indicated an urgent need to reinforce the NRB team in the Northern Region, with Sambo requesting the minister to liaise with the party leadership to provide 50 additional names for registration officers. These officers are expected to undergo a week-long training starting Monday.

The leaked communication has sparked widespread concern and outrage, particularly among opposition parties and civil society organizations, who see it as evidence of potential electoral manipulation. The suggestion that party affiliation and loyalty might influence official deployments and that staff might be involved in rigging schemes has further fueled fears about the integrity of the upcoming 2025 elections.

Political analysts have also weighed in, with some expressing alarm over the alleged content of the message. “If these allegations are true, it would be a serious breach of public trust and a significant threat to the credibility of the electoral process,” said one analyst. “The NRB plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of our voter registration system, and any suggestion of bias or manipulation must be thoroughly investigated.”

The government has yet to officially respond to the leaked message, and it remains unclear what actions, if any, will be taken in response to the controversy. However, calls are growing for an independent investigation into the matter to ensure that the NRB operates impartially and that the upcoming elections are free, fair, and credible.

The leaked WhatsApp message has also intensified scrutiny of the NRB and its operations, with many questioning whether the bureau is adequately insulated from political influence. As Malawi gears up for the 2025 elections, the integrity of its electoral institutions will be under the microscope, and any perception of partisanship could have far-reaching implications for the country’s democracy.

For now, the NRB and the government are facing mounting pressure to address these concerns and to reassure the public that the electoral process will be conducted with the highest standards of transparency and fairness.

The leaked WhatsApp message :

Good morning Hon Minister

Further to my initial communication, I would like to inform you that we have received instructions from OPC that it would be ideal if we deploy the newly recruited NRB staff to Southern Region. My only fear is that, as you are aware most of them are MCP members and some of them take liquor, are they not going to one day expose us that we are behind some rigging schemes after getting drunk? Please address my fears before I deploy them.

As a matter of urgency, we also need additional 50 registration officers to beef up the Northern Region Team, please, you may liase with the party leadership to give you the names. They are expected to undergo a one week training beginning Monday next week

Regards
Mphatso Sambo
PS-NRB

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor

MCP’s rigging scheme exposed: leaked document reveals to plan to deploy party loyalists to key regions

By Twink Jones Gadama

A leaked communication from the National Registration Bureau (NRB) has blown the lid off a suspected vote-rigging scheme by the Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

The document, authored by Mphatso Sambo, PS-NRB, reveals a plan to deploy newly recruited NRB staff, mostly MCP members, to the Southern Region.

The leaked letter, addressed to the Honorable Minister, expresses concerns that the MCP loyalists may expose the party’s rigging schemes while under the influence of alcohol. Sambo writes, “My only fear is that, as you are aware, most of them are MCP members, and some of them take liquor.

Are they not going to one day expose us that we are behind some rigging schemes after getting drunk?”

The communication also requests an additional 50 registration officers to reinforce the Northern Region Team, with instructions to liaise with party leadership for names.

The new recruits are expected to undergo a one-week training starting Monday next week.

But that’s not all – political activist Bon Kalindo has disclosed that the NRB has malfunctioning gadgets in the Southern and Northern regions, where national ID registration is being hindered due to the faulty equipment. Kalindo claims this is another scheme by the MCP to rig the elections.

Meanwhile, the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has announced plans to table a motion in parliament to allow alternative IDs to be used for registration during the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) registration process, in addition to the national ID.

Efforts to reach NRB spokesperson and Mphatso Sambo for comment were unsuccessful, as their phones went unanswered after several attempts.

The Electoral Commission has yet to comment on the matter, but sources indicate that an emergency meeting has been convened to address the concerns raised in the leaked communication.

As the country inches closer to the polls, the integrity of the electoral process remains a top concern.

The leaked document and malfunctioning gadgets have blown the lid off a potentially explosive situation, and Malawians wait with bated breath for a resolution.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily of The Maravi Post or Editor