LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has been challenged to clear the mess in the use of National Identity Cards (IDs) as the sole identifier for electorates to participate in next year’s general elections.
The appeal has been made amid general public outcry on the new electoral laws that mandate MEC to allow electorates to use national IDs for voting arguing that many cannot acquire them through the ongoing National Registration Bureau (NRB) registration process.
Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) commissioner Teresa Ndanga observed that the use of national IDs in the electoral process must be cleared arguing that might lead to the disenfranchisement of voters in 2025.
Ndanga told the Media and Access to Information Annual Conference underway in Lilongwe that while MEC might operate within reviewed electoral laws Section 77 of the Constitution must not be violated.
According to the supreme law of the land, section 77 of the Constitution stipulates that “no eligible voter should be excluded from participating in the electoral process.”
Making her keynote address, the MHRC commissioner therefore appealed to MEC, NRB, and political parties to engage in open and honest dialogue to ensure that all stakeholders trust the system.
“MEC, NRB, and political parties must engage in open and honest dialogue to ensure that all stakeholders trust the system. Only through such transparency can we build the confidence needed for widespread acceptance of the election outcome. That being said, MEC has set a commendable example of a public institution that consistently provides information.
“Since the last election, the Commission has remained actively engaged with the public, maintaining open channels of communication. This continuous engagement is exemplary, and we hope to see the same proactive approach in the upcoming elections,” said.
Ndanga adds, “Transparency must remain at the heart of the process to uphold public trust. Access to timely and accurate information at every stage of the electoral process is essential to ensuring free, fair, and credible elections. Political parties must be encouraged to be more transparent and forthcoming with information.
MEC Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja therefore assured the public that the commission will use existing laws in managing elections.
Mtalimanja however observed that misinformation is hindering the operations of the country’s electoral body ahead of the 2025 General elections.
“We faced this in pilot voter registration, others were spreading information that the registration was a rigging exercise,” she said. All stakeholders should work together to create a conducive environment for the free flow of information,” she said.
She therefore assured that the commission will continue working with the media in ensuring professional reporting saying the electoral body has so far trained 300 journalists on electoral reporting.
In his opening remarks, Media Council of Malawi (MCM) Chairperson Jolly Ntaba said the council is determined to ensure professionalism in the run-up to the 2025 elections.
The much-awaited Media and Access to Information conference is underway at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in the capital Lilongwe.
The conference started with a solidarity match from the Parliament Building to BICC.
Under the theme, “Promoting the free flow of information towards the 2025 General Elections”, the conference has been organized by MHRC) in conjunction with MCM and other partners.
The conference runs from September 26 to 27 and has attracted Media personnel, government officials, civil rights groups, and others.
