DPP expresses rigging fears

The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has asked the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to thoroughly investigate the alleged illegal production and selling of the voter identity cards reported in Mzuzu.

DPP said it fears this could be a systematic move aimed at rigging next year’s elections.

Reacting to The Nation exclusive story last Friday that revealed that fake voter ID cards are being sold at K1 500 (about $4) each, DPP spokesperson Nicholas Dausi described the development as dangerous and that it should not be taken lightly by all stakeholders to ensure that next year’s elections are credible, fair and free and that the results are acceptable.

Said Dausi: “This is the first time that a voter ID card has been sold and that could be the start of the rigging process because it means that those with money can buy as many cards as possible and have voters who are not eligible to participate in the elections.”

The Nation

reported that on June 30 2013, police in Mzuzu arrested two men in connection with the production of counterfeit voter ID cards which use the same laminating porches as MEC’s.

In a statement signed by Dausi himself and DPP director of elections Kondwani Nankhumwa, DPP expressed concerns on how the case is being handled after it transpired that MEC has thrice failed to attend court proceedings, a development that forced the case to be adjourned several times.

Among several demands, DPP wants MEC to work towards tightening security on the voter cards; that the diplomatic community and the country development partners should condemn such acts publicly; and that the civil society should not remain quiet but rise and strongly condemn the behaviour.

However, MEC director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa has assured that although the counterfeit voter cards look like original ones, they bear wrong serial numbers and cannot be used to beat electoral safeguards.

Said Mwafulirwa: “The commission will conduct fresh registration for 2014 which means new voter IDs will be issued. The new cards are different in design and colour from the old ones and they are coming with improved security features. There is no way a person holding a fake ID can vote.”