Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has postponed court-sanctioned fresh parliamentary elections in Nsanje South and Mangochi East constituencies set for September 29 2026 due to lack of access to electoral materials.
In a statement released yesterday, MEC said the continued sealing of its Njewa warehouse in Lilongwe over non-payment of rentals has made critical electoral materials inaccessible.
“The sealing of the Njewa Warehouse has turned essential electoral infrastructure into unreachable equipment,” reads the MEC statement signed by director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa.
The commission said the warehouse remains sealed following enforcement of a Warrant of Distress for Rent dated June 29 2026 and that despite funding recently released by Treasury, lack of physical access prevents it from carrying out key preparatory activities such as inspection of the voters’ register and processing candidate documentation.
In its reaction, Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (CSEIF) said in a statement that the decision confirmed warnings it issued on July 18 2026.
CSEIF chairperson Benedicto Kondowe said in a statement: “The people of Nsanje South and Mangochi East are being denied timely representation in the National Assembly through circumstances that should never have been allowed to reach this point.
“Section 62(1) and (2) of the Constitution requires every constituency to be represented in the National Assembly and guarantees each constituency the right freely to elect its representative. Section 40(3) further protects every person’s right to vote. MEC itself acknowledges that the postponement delays the democratic right of these communities to parliamentary representation.”
CSEIF argues that this development undermines the independence of MEC and amounts to a breach of the Constitution.
MEC, meanwhile, insisted it remains committed to complying with court orders and to conducting the polls lawfully and with integrity.
“We are engaging the relevant authorities—notably the Secretary to the Treasury and the Secretary for Lands, Housing and Urban Development—to secure a timely resolution and restore access to the warehouse,” the Commission said, adding that it will publish a revised electoral calendar once access is restored.
The commission also notified prospective candidates, political parties and supporters that the collection and submission of Notices of Intent to Contest and campaign activities should continue until a new calendar with revised deadlines is issued.
