Since the fall of the one-party political system in 1994, Malawi has constantly held general elections every five years—symbolising a maturing democracy. A new Electoral Integrity Project report has rated Malawi highly among several countries. Our Staff Writer AYAMI MKWANDA engages political expert Ernest Thindwa to unpack the ratings. Excerpts:
Q: The latest Electoral Integrity Project report has rated Malawi’s democracy highly. What does electoral integrity entail?
A:The concept of electoral integrity has tended to attract multiple meanings applied for particular purposes. It is, however, widely understood as adherence to international conventions and global norms, applying universally to all countries worldwide throughout the electoral cycle including during the pre-election period, campaign period, on polling day and its aftermath. This conception is a quest for realisation of principles in the conduct of elections that are necessary to support the broader actualisation of democratic ideals.
Q: How can our democracy as ours, which clocked 33 years since its restoration in 1993, sustain the gains?
A:The principles are opportunities for deliberations, equality of participation, contestation and electoral management quality. In practical terms, electoral integrity is achieved when all citizens have equal rights to participate as voters and candidates, equal voting power, the secrecy of the vote is assured, voters have meaningful access to electoral and campaign information, election administration is conducted in a fair and non-partisan manner, elections are held regularly, the result of elections are decided by the freely cast votes of the qualifying citizens in a given election.
Q:How is electoral integrity measured to eliminate any possible biases in the ratings?
A: The measurement of electoral integrity is largely influenced by how it is conceptualised and purposefully drawn on multiple sources, including election observation reports, media accounts, historical sources, public and country expert surveys and ethnographic studies. Generally, measures have relied on public perception, expert opinion and experience of election officials with focus on eleven elements of the electoral process.
Q: Are there any elements or requirements needed to safeguard electoral integrity?
A: These elements are electoral laws, electoral procedures, electoral district boundaries, voter registration, party registration, media coverage, campaign financing, voting process, vote counting, results and electoral authorities. The elements which attract varying weights sum up an overall score for Perception of Electoral Integrity (PEI) for any given country ranging from being the lowest score to 100 as the highest. The Electoral Integrity Project reports have drawn on expert assessments.
Q: What could be the factors behind Malawi’s rise in electoral integrity?
A: Malawi is ranked sixth in Africa with PEI of 69, a rise from 14th in 2021 when the rating was 54. Cape Verde retains its first position on the continent with a PEI rating of 77, rising from 73 recorded in 2021. Globally, New Zealand claims pole position with PEI rating of 89.
Drivers of the rise in electoral integrity rating may largely be two-fold: Incremental administrative reforms and the calibre of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) leadership in the last two elections.
Administrative reforms can include early publishing of electoral calendar;MEC’s readiness to engage diverse stakeholders using multiple avenues, including National Electoral Consultative Forum and Multiparty Liaison Committee progress reports at regular interval throughout the electoral process; sharing copies of electoral results to all representatives of competing political parties and candidates and pasting of results at each polling centre; simultaneous use of manual and electronic transmission of electoral results and guaranteeing citizens, political parties, including opposition the exercise of electoral rights for legal redress.
The quality of MEC leadership between 2020 and 2025 when the rating rose from 38 in 2019 to 69 in 2026 has been central in enhancing trust in the electoral processes and their outcomes.
However, we need to focus on securing the functional independence of key agencies such as police, MEC, Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
Q: Is there any model we can adopt to strengthen appointments of leaders to public institutions that help in electoral processes?
A: Modelled along the widely admirable Seychelles experience, we need to consider establishing an independent appointments body for the public service top ranks, including MEC chairpersons, registrar of political parties, chief justice, inspector general of Police, director general of Anti-Corruption Bureau who should be awarded a renewable fixed tenure and be required to report to parliament.
Empirical data is unequivocal in demonstrating that independence and capacity of the electoral management body and other relevant state institutions ensure that electoral rules and procedures are consistently upheld compelling political agents to realise the ineffectiveness of clientelist exchanges thereby stimulating change of perceptions and behavior in ways that facilitate optimising electoral integrity.
The law, which governs party financing and prohibit handouts should be tightened and enforced.
