Parliamentary hopefuls and voters in Nsanje South and Mangochi East constituencies are in a dilemma over the uncertainty of court-sanctioned fresh elections.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is yet to set a new date for the elections initially scheduled for September 29 after it failed to regain access to critical electoral materials locked in its sealed Njewa warehouse in Lilongwe.
The commission says it is engaging government to secure access to the facility, but the uncertainty has left voters without a clear timeline for choosing their representatives and candidates with no indication of when their campaigns will end.
MEC director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa said yesterday that the commission remained unable to access the warehouse.
“The efforts so far have been direct engagement with the government for the necessary approvals so that the commission may regain access,” he said.
Meanwhile, MEC has advised candidates and political parties to continue campaigning until a revised electoral calendar is issued.
Section 63(2)(b) of the Constitution provides that a by-election to fill a parliamentary vacancy should be held in the next quarter after the seat becomes vacant or, where circumstances do not permit, “as expeditiously as possible”. The provision also bars a by-election where a vacancy occurs within 12 months of a general election.
In an interview, Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said MEC should openly acknowledge its inability to conduct the elections and citizens should demand accountability.
Mzuzu University political analyst Crispin Mphande said constituents in the two areas are effectively without a voice in Parliament.
Human rights law expert Chikondi Chijozi Jere said MEC holds the key to restoring representation because it is constitutionally mandated to conduct elections.
In Nsanje South, the High Court in Blantyre nullified a corrigendum issued by MEC that declared Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) candidate Thomson Kamangira the winner after the commission had initially declared independent candidate Ramuzani Mahommed the victor.
On the other hand, in Mangochi East, the Supreme Court of Appeal also nullified the September 16 parliamentary election after a challenge to the result, paving the way for another fresh poll.
MEC set September 29 2026 as polling day for both constituencies but postponed the elections after continued sealing of the Njewa warehouse over unpaid rentals left critical electoral materials inaccessible.
