MEC suspends officials for alleged corruption
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) said on Saturday it has suspended all presiding officers in Phalombe Central Constituency for alleged corruption.
Speaking at a press briefing in Blantyre, MEC chairperson Maxon Mbendera said the suspended staff include13 presiding officers, three assistant presiding officers and one polling clerk who he claimed had received “gifts” from a parliamentary candidate.
Mbendera did not name the officials neither did he mention the candidate who allegedly bribed the officials.
He, however, said the presiding officers were head teachers who have since been replaced by their deputies. Mbendera also said MEC has reported the candidate to police.
“MEC has suspended all presiding officers for Phalombe Central Constituency to preserve the integrity of the electoral process. The gifts were in the form of bicycles, mosquito nets, boxes of chalk and K5 000 from one of the candidates in the constituency,” said Mbendera.
Meanwhile, Mbendera also announced that the commission has finished updating the voters’ roll and the final figure now stands at 7 470 806 voters.
Compared with the preliminary total of 7 537 548 voters, this translates into a downward variation of 66 742 voters, according to Mbendera.
He said the variance arose from arithmetical errors in compilation of the final total registered in some centres.
On transport challenges, Mbendera said although there was still a shortfall of vehicles, government has assured that the commission will have all the 1 900 vehicles it requires for the elections.
