The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) has cautioned the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) that the frustrated hired staff conducting the registration exercise are a recipe for disaster.
The Nation
asked CCJP to comment on the implication of reports that some hired MEC staff have expressed discontent over allowances.
“Given the intricacies and the nature of elections, any frustrated MEC hired staff is a recipe for disaster because, one needs a human face to deal with people who need registration, who will need to verify their voters roll and who will need guidance and technical support during the actual voting.
“This, therefore, calls for quick attention from MEC officials,” said Chris Chisoni, CCJP national secretary, in a response to a questionnaire.
His comments come against the background of frustrated teachers, security officers and MEC staff who have expressed displeasure at the allocated allowances.
But MEC publicist Sangwani Mwafulirwa said the issues have been resolved after the electoral body explained to concerned officers of their undertaking when they signed contract forms.
“A few people raised the concern asking if their allowances would be increased but we explained to them and they received the money,” said Mwafulirwa.
Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) publicity secretary Steve Duwa also warned that the issue of allowances would create low morale.
“This can create another challenge in handling the long queues often so far witnessed at registration centres. We may end up having many eligible voters disenfranchised as they would give up on registering due to delays at registration centres,” said Duwa.
The second phase of voter registration for 2014 Tripartite Elections starts today and ends on August 21 2013.
The second phase will cover all constituencies in Blantyre City which were not covered during the first phase, all constituencies in Blantyre Rural and Chiradzulu District as well as Thyolo North Constituency.
MEC in a statement is reminding all eligible registrants in the areas covered under phase two that registration centres will be open from 8am to 4pm including weekends and public holidays.
