Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it is set for today’s by-elections in three constituencies and two local government wards, stating that all polling materials and personnel are in place.
MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja said during a pre-inspection of voting materials in Lilongwe yesterday that the commission had completed all logistical preparations and had not received reports of any major challenges from polling stations.
She said: “So far, so good. Polling stations are confirming that they have received the correct number of ballot papers and all customised materials in the right quantities.
| George Singini
“We have also completed training for polling staff, political party representatives and representatives of independent candidates.”
Mtalimanja, a judge of the High Court of Malawi, said that in the run up to the by-elections MEC also trained election monitors to ensure they fully understand the electoral process and help prevent disputes arising from misunderstandings.
To minimise technical disruptions, she said the commission has deployed technicians to polling centres and positioned standby election management devices for immediate replacement should any malfunction occur.
Polling stations will open at 6am and close at 4pm.
Meanwhile, election stakeholders have expressed confidence in the electoral process, saying the campaign period had remained peaceful.
In an interview, Centre for Multiparty Democracy chairperson Ben Chakhame said the organisation had not received any formal complaints from political parties.
He urged eligible voters to turn out in large numbers and elect leaders they believe will best represent their interests.
Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum chairperson Benedicto Kondowe also described MEC’s preparations as satisfactory, saying the commission had consistently engaged stakeholders throughout the electoral process.
“Our assessment is that MEC is ready to administer these by-elections. Preparations have gone very well,” he said.
The by-elections will be held in Balaka Mulunguzi, Lilongwe City Bwaila and Machinga Mikoko constituencies, as well as in Uliwa Ward in Karonga South Constituency and Kanjuni Ward in Machinga Central East Constituency.
The vacancies resulted from court-ordered nullification of election results in Balaka Mulunguzi and Lilongwe City Bwaila, and the deaths of elected representatives in the remaining constituencies and wards. No fresh voter registration was conducted in Balaka Mulunguzi in line with the court ruling.
