The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) yesterday cancelled local government elections for Ighembe Ward in Karonga Songwe Constituency following discovery that names of two candidates were omitted from the ballot paper.
The two, according to MEC chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, are independent candidate Adrian Masimbi, and Magaret Mwakalinga of the Muvi wa Chilungamo Revolutionary Party (MRP).
She made the announcement yesterday at the Main Tally Centre at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe when she briefed the media on tallying of results, explaining the 50 percent plus 1 vote and announcing of official results.
Mtalimanja said the commission received complaints from Masimbi and Mwakalinga, both duly nominated candidates that their names were omitted from the ballot paper for Ighembe Ward.
She said: “Upon inquiry, the commission established the following: Mr. Adrian Masimbi’s name was inadvertently omitted during the configuration of photographs for the ballot paper.
“Ms. Magaret Mwakalinga’s nomination was inadvertently omitted during the generation of ballot paper templates. A by-election will be conducted in accordance with the law, in the same manner as if a vacancy had arisen.”
According to Mtalimanja, this is an isolated case which has happened in only one ward out of the 509 wards.
“The commission is, therefore, taking this matter seriously and will continue with internal inquiry to completely find how this happened,” she said.
The ward joins several other areas where elections were also postponed.
They include Mikongo Ward in Mangochi North East Constituency following the death of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Allan Jemusi.
MEC also suspended elections for Luwinga Ward in Mzuzu City North Constituency following the death of candidate Isaac Henry of the United Democratic Front (UDF).
This came after MEC suspended another local government election in Lilongwe’s Chilobwe Ward following the death of MCP candidate Mandaachepa Kamwendo on August 14 2025.
