Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has warned that the current atmosphere of mistrust among electoral stakeholders due to “misinformation and disinformation” could compromise public confidence in the polls’ processes and lead to voter apathy.
MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja said this yesterday at the Public Affairs Committee’s (PAC) Sixth All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference in Blantyre under the theme ‘Triggers to electoral disputes ahead of the September 16 2025 General Election’.
She was directly responding to concerns raised by Bishop Martin Mtumbuka of Karonga Diocese of the Catholic Church.
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Said Mtalimanja: “Indeed misinformation and disinformation has created a lot of mistrust and this can be very damaging as we have witnessed in the past.
“But we will continue to, among others, conduct civic awareness and that is why we even took the liberty to make a comprehensive presentation at this forum.”
During a plenary session after a presentation on MEC’s state of preparedness for the forthcoming general election by chief elections officer Andrew Mpesi, Mtumbuka, who leads the Malawi Conference of Catholic Bishops—formerly the Episcopal Conference Malawi, said the mistrust towards MEC is worrisome.
He said as faith leaders, they are ready to work with MEC for the sake of credible polls.
“There is a lot of mistrust towards MEC by many stakeholders and this is something we are concerned about. But we are ready to work with you [MEC],” said Mtumbuka.
In her response, Mtalimanja, a judge of the High Court of Malawi, said MEC shares the same concerns.
She said there is need to work together with different stakeholders to ensure misinformation and disinformation is dealt with. She expressed fear that this has potential to also result in voter apathy.
“Now, if voter apathy happens, then it will mean as MEC we have failed in our work as a body mandated to hold elections on your behalf,” said Mtalimanja.
She appealed to Malawians to use social media responsibly, further stating that it is a tall order to rectify misinformation, especially relating to electoral matters.
Mtalimanja also condemned the tendency by political parties and its followers to rush to social media with grievances, saying this is one of the triggers of misinformation and disinformation.
She said MEC will always remain accommodative; hence, appealed to political party leaders, including its membership, to approach the elections body for any issues they may have.
In her contribution, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of elections Jean Mathanga, a former MEC commissioner, wondered why the electoral body was sticking to the hybrid system of transmitting results when it is apparent that the preferred means among the opposition is manual.
Her sentiments were echoed by United Democratic Front (UDF) legislator for Mangochi Nkungulu Aisha Mambo Adams, who is also Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Adams argued that the consensus among the opposition is that the use of a hybrid system can be reversed.
But Malawi Congress Party (MCP) deputy spokesperson Ken Msonda said the hybrid system should be maintained considering challenges that marred results transmission in the previous elections.
In his presentation on the state of MEC’s preparedness, Mpesi said MEC is confident of a credible electoral process.
He also announced that Mathanga, on behalf of opposition political parties, yesterday submitted the scope of audit pertaining to MECs elections management system which has been contentious in previous months.
Meanwhile, the conference ends today with the Malawi Police Service expected to make a presentation on its peace and security plans ahead of the polls.
