By Dorica Mtenje
LILONGWE (MaraviPost): The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has urged political parties to actively audit voter registration statistics provided to them, as part of efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, April 30, MEC Commissioner Anabel Mtalimanja emphasized the Commission’s longstanding call for parties to engage with the voter registration data analytically, rather than making assumptions.
“As we continue to make voter registration data available, we encourage political parties to conduct audits using the statistics we have shared,” said Mtalimanja.
She further disclosed that MEC has received over 60,000 voter transfer requests from registered voters seeking to change their polling centers. Out of these, 19 applications were initially rejected due to administrative or technical issues.
She however said 15 of them were later approved upon review, while four were permanently declined due to what Mtalimanja described as “serious concerns,” without providing further details.
In a related development,
Chairperson of the Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (CSEIF), Benedicto Kondowe, called for increased support for civic education, revealing that civil society organizations require K30 billion to assist MEC in voter education efforts.
“At the moment, civic and voter education is largely in the hands of MEC and political parties alone, which is inadequate. For electoral integrity to be widely accepted by Malawians, more inclusive civic engagement is essential,” Kondowe stated.
The call comes as Malawi prepares for its upcoming elections, with stakeholders pushing for increased transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
“For electoral integrity to be widely accepted by Malawians, more inclusive civic engagement is essential,” Kondowe stated.
The call comes as Malawi prepares for its upcoming elections, with stakeholders pushing for increased transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
