CSOs demand security
Some civil society organisations (CSOs) have asked security agencies in the country to be vigilant and act professionally as voting will be taking place tomorrow, so that people elect a leader of their choice without security fears.
Youth and Society (YAS) executive director Charles Kajoloweka and Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) acting executive director Michael Kaiyatsa made the call yesterday during a media briefing in Mzuzu.
Kaiyatsa said the Malawi Police Service should discharge its duties professionally and protect all voters.
He said: “Security and law enforcement agents must discharge their duties professionally. They must ensure maximum security in all polling centres, especially in violence-prone districts, but also maximum security for party monitors in view of threats from some quarters.
“The law enforcement agencies must rise above party politics and discharge their responsibilities professionally.”
On his part, Kajoloweka said the country is watching how the security agencies will perform their duties.
“Let the voters, monitors and everybody be protected. They must guard against any mischief by those who will want to pervert the truth,” he said.
On Friday, Citizens for Transformation commander-in-chief Timothy Mtambo also urged security agencies to act professionally during the voting day.
He said: “The voting exercise is at the heart of the Constitution in a democracy as it elects leaders of the country. The people and the process, therefore, deserve a merited service of these security agents.”
During a National Elections Consultative Forum meeting in Lilongwe on June 18, MEC chairperson Chifundo Kachale said the commission has put in place security measures to protect everyone who will go to vote, but also work on the polling day.
He said: “This time around monitors will be at polling station level and no one will be allowed to be roving. At the polling stations there will be at least two officers from the police.”
“For hotspot there will be a combination of Malawi Defence Forces [MDF] soldiers and police officer providing security. The commission in collaboration with the security agencies is coming up with a map for hotspot areas.”
National Police spokesperson James Kadadzera has said security officers from the Police, MDF, Prisons Department and Immigration Department have been deployed in all polling centres to strengthen security before and after voting on June 23.
“We assure all Malawians that strict measures have been put in place to ensure safety to all voters, polling staff and polling materials.”
