Written by Richard Kayenda

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has suspended the voter registration exercise in Blantyre City following an interruption by some unidentified mobs who beat MEC officials and stole their equipment at Makata and Chirimba centres.

According to a press statement that MEC has released and has been signed by its Chairperson, Dr Jane Ansah, the suspension is with immediate effect.

“The decision has been made to protect the lives of registrants, voter registration staff and MEC property following sporadic attacks in various registration centres by unknown mobs who blamed the Commission for continuing with voter registration amidst the threat of Covid 19 pandemic,” reads the statement in part.

The Commission further advises its stakeholders that when the Supreme Court of Appeal advises it on what do next; following the application it filed with the Court on 11April, 2020, due to the Coronavirus, it will immediately advise the nation on the future of the voter registration in the affected areas.

Confirming the suspension, Director of Media and Communication at MEC, Sangwani Mwafulirwa said those who have already registered, their information is safe and those not registered will be considered in the remaining days when the exercise resumes.

MEC is currently conducting voter registration exercise in readiness for the fresh Presidential polls slated to take place July 2 this year; following the Court judgment on 3 February this year. The first phase of voter registration started with the districts of Chitipa, Karonga, Salima and Blantyre