MEC strikes off 123voters, bars 33 officers
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it has deleted 123 names from the voter’s register in three wards in Karonga District for using the National Registration Bureau registration slip instead of the actual national identity card (IDs).
The commission will conduct by-elections in Kaporo, Chilanga and Rukuru wards which became vacant following the conviction of their respective councillors last year.
MEC Commissioner Francis Kasaila said this on Wednesday during a multiparty liaison committee meeting in the district aimed at updating members on the progress made during and after the voter registration and presentation of nomination papers.
He said: “MEC has struck off 123 people in all three wards who registered without IDs and are ineligible to vote.
“In this case, we have 68 461 eligible voters in all wards. We have also barred 33 registration officers for allegedly being involved in unprocedural registration of voters.”
Kasaila also said the commission has barred two candidates, Gertrude Mwanyongo and Menelina Mwaipinga from the Leadership with Compassion Party because their party is not registered with the registrar of political parties.
“This means we have 21 candidates from different parties, including independent candidates who will contest in the March 26 2024 by-elections,” he said.
With the two female candidates barred, the ballot will only have one female candidate who is representing Alliance for Democracy (Aford).
In an interview, Aford Karonga district governor Mackenzie Malema commended MEC for the bold decision, saying both voters and candidates should always abide by laws that govern elections.
“We are satisfied with the progress made so far. The effort to update electoral stakeholders during the whole electoral calendar is crucial to ensure that we hold free, fair and credible by-elections,” he said.
