MEC rules out another by-election before 2025 polls
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it is unlikely that they will conduct another by-election before the 2025 General Elections.
MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja made the remarks in Blantyre on Friday when the commission and other stakeholders conducted a post-mortem to review the July 23 by-election held in Chilaweni Ward in Blantyre Rural East Constituency.
She said MEC is now preparing for the September 16 2025 General Elections and it may be confusing for the voters for the commission to have simultaneous processes.
“As of now we have two vacancies in Mulanje and Mangochi but it is highly unlikely that we will conduct those by-elections so that we can allow the contestants to prepare for 2025,” said Mtalimanja.
During the by-elections in Chilaweni Ward and in Mwasa Ward in Mangochi North East Constituency, only one female candidate took part out of 14 contestants.
Mtalimanja admitted that this was one of the challenges observed in the by-elections. She urged civil society organisations to help the commission in encouraging more women to participate in elections.
Commenting on the call, National Initiative for Civic Education programme officer for Blantyre Glory Ngosi-Maulidi said her organisation is also concerned with the lack of female contestants in the Chilaweni by-election and will conduct civic education activities targeting women ahead of the 2025 polls.
“Financial challenges also discourage women from participating in elections so there is a need to connect female aspirants with organisations that can assist them to conduct political campaigns,” she said.
In the July 23 by-election in Mwasa Ward, Malawi Congress Party candidate Stewart Mwase was declared winner while in Chilaweni Ward, independent candidate Maxwell Chipiliro Phiri carried the day.
