Level playing field on polls
In the past two weeks, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has been meeting with district commissioners and chief executive officers of councils and police officers-in-charge of formations in the Southern Region to orient them on the new electoral laws that have significantly changed how the next elections will be managed.
It is our expectation is that such engagements will extend to all other players such as the media and civil society.
We cannot agree more that it is through interfacing with its stakeholders that MEC can foster collaboration, transparency and inclusivity in the conduct of the elections.
It is our hope is that MEC will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all stakeholders are thoroughly acquainted with the new electoral laws so that the country can deliver free and fair and acceptable elections.
One critical prerequisite for holding such elections is the need to eliminate political violence not only during the official campaign period but starting long before that. While the official campaign period starts two months before the polling day, we are aware that political parties and aspirants for various political offices are already on the ground campaigning.
And already we have seen the ugly face of political violence rearing its head, which makes it difficult for all aspirants to reach the electorates. The role of the police is, therefore, to level the playing field not only during the official campaign period but long before that.
Apart from district commissioners and CEOs of councils and police officer-in charge, others that need to be well oriented with the new electoral laws are the civil society organisations and the media. The role of these sectors is integral to that of other stakeholders especially with regard to providing voter education and civic education.
A peaceful environment after polls is critical for economic development and the attainment of Malawi’s 2030 to become a lower middle income economy. This is the stepping stone to Malawi 2063 development agenda which aims to transform the country into an inclusively-wealthy and self-reliant industrialised upper-middle income country by the year 2063 as well as the 2030 agenda.
It is therefore critical that all stakeholders are well oriented about and capacitated for their tasks.
