The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) has presented its final September 16 General Election report with a proposal for electoral reforms to address campaign inequalities, technology-related mistrust and unresolved systemic gaps.
Presenting the report in Lilongwe yesterday, EU-EOM chief observer Lucia Annunziata said while the election satisfied essential democratic principles, there were persistent weaknesses that could undermine the credibility of future elections if not addressed.
She said her mission observed a competitive campaign, broad pluralism and a smooth transfer of power, but stressed that “longstanding weaknesses in campaign finance, media fairness and election technology still require decisive action”.
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Annunziata said the mission’s 21 recommendations target improvements in election administration and technology, campaign financing rules, media independence, representation of women and persons with disabilities as well as timely resolution of disputes.
“Malawi has demonstrated its democratic resilience. The task ahead is to strengthen the structures that support elections so that future contests are not only peaceful and credible but also equitable and transparent,” she said.
Unpacking the key issues, the EU-EOM raised concerns over unclear communication on election technology, opaque procurement of biometric verification devices and delayed operational procedures, saying these factors eroded trust.
It also cited judicial delays that forced the postponement of two parliamentary elections after disputes were settled close to polling day.
On the campaign environment, the EU-EOM noted the absence of spending limits, saying it allowed well-resourced candidates to dominate political messaging while women, independents and young aspirants faced steep economic and cultural barriers.
It also noted that taxpayer-funded Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) fell short of neutrality obligations and that the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra) lacked independence to enforce media fairness.
During the presentation, Annunziata highlighted six priority reforms that should be expedited, namely establishing a legal framework for election technology, setting limits on campaign financing, ensuring Macra’s independence, transforming MBC into a public service broadcaster, adoption of temporary measures to boost women’s representation and introducing judicial time limits for electoral disputes.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja has since said the electoral body will review the EU-EOM recommendations in detail.
She described the EU-EOM’s presence during the elections as valuable, especially after several traditional observer groups failed to participate.
“Observer reports bring independent eyes and objective assessment to processes that are often complex and highly scrutinised,” said Mtalimanja, a judge of the High Court of Malawi who added that the EU support through the Malawi Elections Support Programme helped MEC deliver “professionally managed and inclusive elections”.
Reacting to the report, Centre for Multiparty Democracy executive director Boniface Chibwana said many of the recommendations highlighted in the EU-EOM report recur in every election, but are not addressed.
He said the gaps need to be resolved through inclusive reforms.
Said Chibwana: “We need to deal with them decisively through consultative reforms, with particular urgency placed on political party financing reforms. Also, gone is the time when women’s issues were treated as tokenism. We must do something tangible to increase meaningful participation of women.”
On his part, Political Science Association spokesperson Mavuto Bamusi said the findings show growing confidence in Malawi’s elections.
“The report reflects the trust that the EU has in Malawi’s electoral processes and reveals a deepening sense of democratisation,” he said.
Bamusi said the recommendations “open avenues for more investment in democratisation and development” and argued that the report “adds legitimacy to the election results and strengthens the mandate of the new administration”.
In a separate interview, political analyst Ernest Thindwa said most of the recommendations echo long-standing concerns that political actors have repeatedly ignored.
He said: “Except for the call for legislation on the use of technology in the electoral process, issues raised are recurring but key actors with voting and veto rights have not demonstrated keen interest to respond favourably because they benefit from the status quo.”
The EU-EOM deployed 110 observers from EU member States and partner countries, including Canada in the run-up to and during the September 16 General Election.
