LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The newly launched Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (CSEIF) expects credible 2025 elections results towards promotion of good governance.

CSEIF interim leader Benedicto Kondowe says its a wish of the grouping that this year’s elections results should satisfy voters.

Kondowe was speaking on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 I the capital Lilongwe during the launch of CSEIF ahead of September 16, General polls.

“It’s an expectation of this noble grouping that this year’s elections results and onwards satisfy voters. Malawi deserves credible elections results with leaders who have agenda for people’s welfare.

“This is the reason we have established this platform to advance accountability beyond elections results in all political positions including councillors, legislators and president,” says Kondowe.

In her remarks, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja called on civil society organisations (CSOs) in the country to work with MEC in consolidating public trust in the commission.

Mtalimanja has expressed concern that there have been incidents that have affected electoral processes because of the way electoral stakeholders handled some issues.

She pointed that calls by some stakeholders to boycott voter registration has had a negative effect, emphasising that the issue should be a cause for concern to the forum.

“One of the foremost challenges in delivering a credible elections is ensuring that there is trust in the elections management body by all electoral stakeholders.

“In an electoral environment where the elections management body cannot be trusted, it is actually impossible to conduct an election that can be considered credible and where the results can be accepted by the electorate,” said Mtalimanja.

The MEC chair therefore called on the forum to help in fighting misinformation and disinformation on elections, saying the build up to the elections has not been spared of such issues.

She however singled out false information about use of the election management devices, as an example.

Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (CSEIF) is compromised of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRCC), National Advocacy Platform and other civil society organisations.