The United Nations (UN) has advised Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to ensure continuous and regular updates on the electoral processes to build public trust ahead of the September 16 General Election.
In her address to the Public Affairs Committee’s (PAC) Sixth All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference in Blantyre yesterday, UN acting resident coordinator Nelida Rodrigues said lack of communication on the electoral processes would lead to MEC losing public trust.
She said: “As we begin today’s [yesterday] discussions, I urge political leaders to commit to peaceful and fair competition and reject inflammatory rhetoric.
“The electoral commission should also continuously and regularly communicate about the electoral process to build public trust.”
Rodrigues also urged civil society organisations (CSOs) to amplify the voices of women, youth and persons with disabilities.
On the other hand, she called on security agencies to uphold neutrality and inspire public confidence.
“The UN remains a steadfast partner in this journey. Let us seize this moment to forge and actualise a shared resolve that ensures that elections unite, rather than divide, the people of Malawi,” said the UN acting resident coordinator.
PAC chairperson Monsignor Patrick Thawale, in his opening remarks, said he believed that the conference was timely and will provide a platform where stakeholders will address pertinent issues.
He said the quasi-religious body was expecting MEC to articulate issues relating the use of election management devices (EMDs) for results management in the September 16 2025 General Election.
“This gathering is so important in the sense that people will clarify their stands, and to make sure that the rumours we hear out there are either factual or not,” said Thawale.
During the morning session, tempers flared when one of the moderators, Maggie Kathewera Banda, informed the delegates that there would be no more questions as the conference was about to be adjourned for lunch.
Her announcement did not go down well with activists Bon Kalindo and Sylvester Namiwa who protested, questioning why the delegates were in the room.
It took Political Science Association spokesperson Mavuto Bamusi to calm the duo.
The issues that dominated the meeting included how MEC contracted Smartmatic, an information technology (IT) company to supply EMDs and software which attracted resistance largely among opposition political parties.
Smartmatic became the sole bidder after two other companies withdrew to supply EMDs and software.
Delegates to the conference included MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja, Inspector General of Police Merlyne Yolamu and Human Rights Defenders Coalition chairperson Gift Trapence.
The Executive was also represented by Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Simplex Chithyola Banda, Minister of Local Government, Unity and Culture Richard Chimwendo Banda, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu and Minister of Higher Education Jessie Kabwila.
