LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) is demanding electoral laws reform against abuse of state resources during elections.
CHRR observes that reformed electoral laws must clear penalise politicians particularly cabinet ministers for using state resources including vehicles during elections.
The grouping told the news conference on Monday, December 15, 2025 in the capital Lilongwe that the 16 September elections had a number of lessons the nation need to work on ahead 2030 polls.
In its post-election report CHRR has highlighted misuse of state resources, issuance of handouts, inadequate infrastructure at polling centres, technical failures, and delayed deployment of voter registration equipment as some of the challenges that affected the 16 September elections.
“Its against electoral laws for cabinet ministers including head of state to use public resources during elections.
Let the law come very clearly that such tendencies are punished by the law,” appeals CHRR Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa.
He observes that malfunctioning election management devices prevented some eligible voters from registering on the voters’ roll.
Kaiyatsa added that extreme heat conditions negatively affected vulnerable voters during the exercise.
He however, noted that despite these challenges, the elections were peaceful and conducted in an orderly manner.
Kaiyatsa therefore called on the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), together with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, to enforce laws that prohibit the use of public resources during political campaigns.
He further recommended the enactment of legislation to make campaign financing disclosure mandatory.
Kaiyatsa appeals, “Implementation of the recommendations would contribute to stronger electoral governance, increased public trust, and more inclusive democratic participation in Malawi’s future elections”.
CHRR operated in 11 districts as electoral observers during September 16 Elections.
