Election observers have condemned incidents of politicians issuing handouts to some Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) registration staff and potential registrants during the third phase of voter registration for the September 16 2025 General Election.
Chisankho Watch, a grouping of MEC-credited civil society organisations (CSOs) monitoring the electoral process, told journalists in Lilongwe yesterday that, among others, it documented and verified an incident at Nyamithuthu Registration Centre in Nsanje District where a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) legislator, whose identity was not disclosed, handed out K10 000 to MEC voter registration staff.
The coalition’s board member the Reverend Mark Mkandawire, who read out a statement, said: “The action constitutes a breach of the Political Parties Act [2018] and Malawi Electoral Commission Code of Conduct.
“The malpractice further poses significant risk to the credibility and impartiality of MEC in overseeing the voter registration process.”
He said the coalition also recorded incidents of inducements to potential registrants, with one case recorded in Lilongwe Likuni Constituency where another MCP MP, (name not mentioned) gave out K5 000s and soya pieces packs to potential registrants.
The legislator is also quoted as having promised voter registrants easy access to National Economic Empowerment Fund loans.
Further stated Mkandawire: “In Lilongwe City Mtandire-Msiliza Constituency and Lilongwe Demera Constituency, MCP members were also spotted offering K2 000, K1 000, and soya pieces to potential registrants.
“Similar instances of coercion and inducement were recorded during the first and second phases of the voter registration exercise in Nkhotakota, Salima, Ntchisi, Nkhata Bay, and Mchinji districts. These practices raise serious concerns about voter bribery.”
The coalition said it also established cases of harassment and intimidation of registration officials.
It reported that on December 8, at Demonstration School in Lumbadzi-Magweru Constituency, about 15 people who arrived at the centre after closing time threatened registration officials when they were asked to return another day.
“To avoid escalating the situation, the supervisor, party monitors and security personnel allowed them to register despite this being against standard procedures,” said Mkandawire.
The observers also recorded and verified increasing spread of misinformation and disinformation by political parties which in turn undermined the voter registration process.
The coalition has asked MEC to take disciplinary action on officers who got handouts and enhance security in its centres to manage conflicts.
Further, it has also called on the office of the registrar of political parties to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to address voter bribery and undue coercion, as outlined in Section 41 of the Political Parties Act (2018).
When asked to name the politicians found issuing handouts, Chisankho Watch chairperson Gilford Matonga declined to give their identities.
However, in an interview yesterday, MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila dared the coalition to provide evidence of the allegations and submit the same to relevant authorities for redress.
In a separate interview, MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said the electoral body was not aware of the allegations of the handouts to MEC officials and other incidents.
“Like with all other observer reports we will look into the issues raised and follow up on some of the allegations made,” he said.
Registrar of Political Parties Kizito Tenthani said he could not comment on the matter because the coalition has not engaged his office.
On the other hand, political analyst George Chaima advised Chisankho Watch to file the complaint to credible institutions if it has evidence of politicians giving handouts.
“Where there is evidence of handouts obviously there is evidence of law breaking and where there is law breaking obviously one is committing an offence,” he said.
The Chisankho Coalition membership includes Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Gender Justice Unit, m-Hub and Public Affairs Committee.
