MEC registers 3.7 million voters

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has disclosed that the preliminary results of total registered voters for all the five phases is 3 759 602.

The sixth phase of voter registration is currently in progress in Lilongwe City, Chitipa and Dowa districts, Mchinji South and Southwest constituencies and Dedza West, Central, Central East, Southwest and Northwest constituencies. This phase will end on October 28, 2013.

MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said the preliminary registered voters for fifth phase registered 881 800 voters against 756 372 who were registered in 2010 [in the aborted local government elections] in the same areas. This represents 16.58 percent increase.

Presenting a summary of the registration figures in a statement, Mwafulirwa said Dedza South, North and East constituencies registered 164 606 while Ntcheu  had 264 983, Mangochi District 426 872 and Mangochi Town 25 339.

Mwafulirwa said of the total registered voters in fifth phase 379 420 are men representing 43.03 percent while 502 380 are women representing 56.97 percent.

He, however, said there were some logistical challenges faced in phase five to the extent that some centres could not open for a full day in Ntcheu, Mangochi and Dedza.

“The commission provided for an extension at the end of the phase equivalent to the period the centres were non-operational,” he said.

But the commission has urged stakeholders to exercise caution with the statistics because they are based on preliminary information captured during field operations.

“The figures may change during scanning, data quality control management and during voter verification as some people may transfer to or from other centres,” said Mwafulirwa.