BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)—Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has once again bemoaned funding delays from the treasury as they are preparing for the forthcoming fresh presidential election slated for Tuesday next week.
Speaking during national elections consultation meeting with various stakeholders in Lilongwe on Thursday, MEC Chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale said the Commission is facing financial challenges as it is yet to access K10 billion from Treasury to manage some of their scheduled activities.
He said he engaged Treasury, Reserve Bank of Malawi and other financial institutions on the matter.
In terms of transport logistics, Kachale said there is a shortfall of 226 trucks.
.
According to Kachale, Mec needs 386 trucks but so far, only 150 trucks are available. Three helicopters will be required to travel to other areas and the electoral body is yet to discuss with Malawi Defence Force on hiring its planes.
Kachale said the Commission is going to appraise Parliament on the state of preparedness and challenges it is facing and they will seek direction on how best they can deal with the challenges.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka has asked the commission if political parties could be allowed to procure their own seals to secure documents that will be taken to the main tally centre.
Mkaka has also said opposition political parties will make sure that the fresh election is held on June 23 despite funding shortages.
He saID they will use all the available instruments to make sure that MEC is funded to conduct the election on the set date.
Mkaka, however, did not indicate how opposition political parties are going to source funding for MEC.
