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MEC to implement reform proposal in by-elections

 

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it will implement a new vote tallying proposal as proposed in the electoral reforms during the forthcoming October 17 by-elections.

The new elections results management system requires writing both in figures and in words to check against manipulation.

The proposal came from Lilongwe South member of Parliament (MP) Peter Dimba (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) through a Private Member’s Bill introducing Section 93 (2) to the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act. However, the Bill is yet to pass through the National Assembly.

Ansah: We have
learnt a lot

The proposal followed an observation by the Judiciary and other stakeholders that there were some irregularities in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections, particularly in Lilongwe City South East where a by-election will be held on October 17 this year.

While admitting that MEC failed to ensure fair and free elections in Lilongwe City South Constituency as per the court’s ruling, the electoral body’s chairperson Jane Ansah said the commission has put in place measures to prevent a repeat of developments of 2014.

She said: “Among other changes, we have amended the results sheet so that it now records voting results in both words and figures.”

Ansah, who is also a judge of the Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal, said this in Lilongwe yesterday during the launch of the by-elections.

She said before results are transferred to the national tally centre they will be posted at the polling centre.

The Lilongwe City South East by-election will be held alongside by-elections in other areas that are vacant due to deaths of office holders, notably in Lilongwe Msozi North Constituency, Mayani North Ward in Dedza North Constituency, Nsanje Lalanje Constituency, Msiliza Ward in Lilongwe City West Constituency and Ndirande Makata in Blantyre Malabada Constituency. n

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