Q & A

From the mec chair’s mouth

 

Recently, President Peter Mutharika appointed Malawi Supreme Court of Appeal judge Dr Jane Ansah, SC as the new Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson. Our Reporter ALBERT SHARRA caught up with her to find out about her plans and reaction to the November 1 by-elections.

Ansah: Voter apathy in by-elections  is a worldwide trend
Ansah: Voter apathy in by-elections
is a worldwide trend

Q1:

Congratulations on your  appointment as chairperson. How does it feel  to be the second woman to head the electoral commission?

A:

Thank you for your kindness. I welcome the position of MEC chairperson with preparedness. When I look at this position, it is not about being male or female, but it is about doing what one is expected and is right before God and man. We all know that my sister Judge, the retired chief justice (CJ) Anastasia Msosa was not only the first woman, but she is the first ever MEC chair.

She ably took Malawi to the ballot box in Malawi’s first multiparty presidential and parliamentary elections. Having completed her first term, after an interval, she was re-appointed. I believe her re-appointment speaks tons about her performance as MEC chairperson  and not as a woman. It is not being a female MEC chairperson, but performance and delivery including having integrity to win the trust of all stakeholders. Fortunately, for me the retired CJ Msosa and Justice James Kalaile retired are around and willing to allow me to tap into their vast experience.

 

Q:

What do you want to achieve during your time at MEC?

A:

What I want to achieve is to realise MEC’s mission statement, which is to deliver cost effective embroiled free, fair and credible elections. I have adopted this to be my vision.

 

Q:

You have taken over at a time the commission is in allegations of finnacial abuse involving the secretariat and some of the staff, including the chief elections officer, are on forced leave. How has been business at the office?

A:

Yes, I have joined MEC when some members of staff are on administrative leave to allow the Independent Investigative Panel carry out its work with regard to the alleged misuse of funds. By nature, vacuums get somehow get filled up. If you empty water from a glass, the glass does not remain empty but air fills up the glass.

We feel the absence of those who are on administrative leave, but the work is going on smoothly as witnessed by the successful by-election which has just been conducted. At MEC business is going on as usual as the commissioners and secretariat work together. An institution that fails to train up those in lower position to carry on the work is a failure.

Some years ago, the whole Zambian football team perished in a plane crash, but that did not mark the end of football in Zambia. There were those who were not in the national team, but were trained and were able to step into the empty football shoes. The work we do is team work, it has to go on.

 

Q:

You had your first official assignment to administer the November 1 by-elections which were marred by voter apathy. What are your thoughts?

A:

To begin with, the trend of voter apathy in by-elections is common the world over. However, the levels differs. That said, what is important is that once again the people of Malawi in the affected constituency and wards were given an opportunity to exercise their democratic right to choose a leader and exercise their human right to vote.

I am impressed with how I have started. I have been part and parcel of the processes. To me, this is an opportunity to receive ‘on the job training’.

 

Q:

What lessons can be drawn from this by-election and how will they shape the future elections?

 

A:

At the occurrence of

each and every event, there are indeed lessons to be learned. The just concluded by-elections have gone on well without serious problems. There were minor hiccups which did not impact negatively on the results. There were one or two shortfalls that were nipped in the bud. On a positive note, we worked together with all stake holders and that they accepted the results. My prayer is that this togetherness will continue.

 

Q:

You have the tripartite elections in 2019 that come after the first tripartite elections in 2014, which were marred by several irregularities. How prepared are you and the commission to administer the second tripartite elections?

A:

We are prepared and continue to prepare for the 2019 Tripartite Elections. We should bear in mind that elections are not a single event but a cycle. Therefore, as soon as elections are over, that is the beginning of preparations for the next one. MEC has been preparing since the conclusion of the 2014 Tripartite Elections.

 

Q:

There are several reforms that were proposed for the commission both legal and administrative. Where do things stand?

A:

At the close of the 2014 Tripartite Elections, MEC and stakeholders had a post-mortem of the elections. There are lessons we have learnt and there are areas which we are going to improve on. There are proposed reforms both legal and administrative. On the non-legal reforms we have signed a communiqué with Malawi Electoral Support Network [Mesn]. This body represents accredited election civil society organisations and Centre for Multiparty Democracy [CMD] which represents political parties in Parliament, to start working on non-legal reforms which do not need formal amendments to the existing electoral law. For example in the just ended by-election, we started implementing the administrative reforms such as ensuring that non sensitive materials were distributed in good time and that all political parties were invited to be present from ballot paper printing to distribution to the centres.

With the legal reforms, they were referred to the Law Commission and there is currently a special Law Commission on Electoral Reforms which is working on them.

 

Q:

Anything you would like to share with our readers?

 

A:

This is a challenging position and yet fulfilling. Everything is possible to those who believe and depend upon the Lord. The short time I have been at MEC, one thing that I have learnt is that this work entails team work and good and healthy working relationship with all stakeholders. These include political parties, civil society organisations, media and government and all the people of Malawi. As Malawians, let us love our country and dwell on facts and not speculations then we will eat the good of the land. Let us learn and sing all the three verses of our National Anthem, then we will see how blessed we are.

God bless you all and God bless Malawi. n

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