Ifmis affects registration in Chitipa
The suspended Integrated Financial Management Information System (Ifmis), Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) budget cut and faulty cameras have negatively affected the registration process in Chitipa.
MEC rolled out phase six of the registration exercise on Tuesday in 144 centre of Chitipa where 119 550 people are expected to register.
The exercise is earlier than planned to avoid challenges that arise due to poor road network during rainy season.
However, the move faced other challenges and people failed to register in some centres despite being at the centres earlier and for hours.
Spot checks by The Nation found that people failed to register due to faulty cameras, unavailability of materials and absence of staff in centres such as Nkhumano, Kankhusya, Kasasa and Bale in Wenya Constituency.
MEC commissioner the Reverend Mezuwa Banda, who toured the centres, said the problems started with delay in releasing funds following the suspension of Ifmis.
“Suspension of Ifmis has affected almost everyone and MEC has not been spared,” said Banda.
He said with the cut from over K20 billion to K18 billion the body failed to hire Malawi Defence Force helicopters to deliver materials and staff.
