General Elections launched

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) yesterday launched the 2025 Tripartite Election with a call for more women and youth participation in key elected positions.

MEC chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja urged political parties to create a level playing field for everyone during party programmes such as primary elections.

“Studies have shown that women and the youth are more in numbers but their participation is very low. I urge you political parties to create an environment that will give them a chance,” she said.

Youth and Society executive director Charles Kajoloweka commended MEC for advocating for youth participation and called on political parties to heed the call.

“This is what we have always fought for, but it is challenging when it goes at party level, the youth are not given an opportunity but maybe with this call things will improve,” he said.

Oxfam Malawi country director Lingalireni Mihowa said women need support to increase their numbers in elected positions such members of Parliament and councillors.

She said: “Generally, women are oppressed right from political parties for a number of factors but with support, this trend can change.”

According to National Statistical Office, out of the estimated 20 931 751 people in Malawi, males are estimated at 10.45 million representing 48.67 percent while females are estimated at 11.02 million, representing 51.33 percent of the population.

In terms of age proportion, Malawi is estimated to have 9 600 858 young people below 15 years, 11 127 095 persons between 15 and 64 years and 570 582 persons above 64 years.

Information on Malawi Parliament website shows that in the 2019 General Election, out of 193 parliamentary seats, only 44 were won by women.

The Malawi Local Government Association (Malga) says 463 local government seats, only 65 seats went to women.

MEC director of information Sangwani Mwafulirwa says from NSO statistics, it is estimated that there are 10.9 million eligible voters in the country.

The launch took place at the Bingu International Convention Centre (Bicc) in Lilongwe and was attended by representatives of political parties, civil society organisations’ umbrella bodies, faith and religious leaders, diplomats and government ministries, departments and agencies.

Mtalimanja announced some changes in the 2025 elections such as payment of nomination fees before collecting forms and instant transfer of prospective voters at polling centres.

In the previous elections, candidates were collecting nomination forms before paying the fees and in order to transfer a name, a voter was required to obtain evidence of registration from the previous registration centre.

Mtalimanja said voter registration, which is expected to commence in September 2024, will be conducted in four phases of 14 days each while official campaign will start on June 15 2025.

“The requirements for voter registration are for both valid and expired national IDs. But for those who have registered or applied for replacement and have not received their IDs, they will be allowed to use the sticker on the registration form,” she said.

The MEC chairperson said payment and collection of local government nomination papers will be between April and May 2025 while for presidential and parliamentary candidates it will be between April and June 2025.

“Counting of votes and announcement of official results for presidential and parliamentary elections will be done between September 17 and 24 2025 while for local government elections it will be between September 17 and 7 October 2025,” she said.

Reacting to the launch, which took place 417 days to the polls, United Nations resident coordinator Rebecca Ada Donto said Malawi has made a milestone by launching the process in good time.

“This will give MEC time to prepare and undertake different steps without pressure, it will also give room for correction of errors in case of any and this will facilitate an excellent election,” she said.

But in their reactions to the same, political parties, especially from the opposition, raised concerns with the way registration for national IDs is going on, saying it may lead to some people failing to vote.

UTM secretary general Patricia Kaliati said it is worrisome that the National Registration Bureau (NRB) is allocating more registration materials to some areas and few to others “which may lead to disparities in figures of registered people”.

Democratic Progressive Party secretary general Clement Mwale said to level the playing field during voter registration, NRB should have a desk at each centre where those who may not have registered, can register for ID, then register as a voter.

United Democratic Front secretary general Kandi Padambo said apart from the national ID, MEC should consider recognising other identifications such as driver’s licence, passport and letters from chiefs for registration.

Malawi Congress Party secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka said the launch of the 2025 election early means, as a country, we have started on a high note and hopes that going forward, MEC will continue doing things timely.

The 2025 election will be conducted under the theme ‘Promoting Democratic Leadership through your vote’.