Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says all ballot papers for the September 16 General Election are now in the country and that dispatch to constituency tally centres will start tomorrow.
MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja told the media in Lilongwe last evening that there is enhanced security for the ballot papers and other sensitive electoral materials.
She said that the ballot papers are currently stored under a round-the-clock watch of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) and Malawi Police Service at a warehouse within Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe.
“The commission wishes to assure the nation that the ballot papers and all materials are safe and kept under secure conditions at all times. We have put in place adequate mechanisms, including MDF and police oversight to guarantee their safety,” said Mtalimanja, a judge of the High Court of Malawi.
The dispatch of the ballots marks a crucial stage in the electoral calendar.
week. | Nation
This stage of the electoral calendar has often threatened to break the trust between the electoral body and political parties as well as the electorate on one hand, especially as it relates to storage and dispatch of the ballots.
Mtalimanja said sorting of consignments is underway, with deliveries expected to begin in the farthest constituencies.
She said that at constituency tally centres, the materials will remain locked in vehicles until the day they will be delivered at polling centres.
Mtalimanja also dismissed speculation of irregularities, pointing out that political party representatives travelled with MEC officials to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to witness ballot printing and have been present during consignments’ arrivals since September 1.
“As we speak, we have not received any complaints or concerns from political parties regarding the printing or receipt of the ballot papers,” she said.
On concerns that even isolated logistical hiccups may be weaponised in political narratives, particularly on social media, where disinformation thrives, Mtalimanja urged the public to verify information before sharing.
“Before you hit post, before you hit forward, verify. The commission itself is available on social media and through our newspaper column in The Nation [published in Political Index pull-out every Wednesday] to provide accurate updates,” she said.
Mtalimanja also reminded Malawians that September 16 will be a public holiday, appealing to citizens to vote early and to essential service providers to ensure their workers have time to cast ballots.
During the final National Elections Consultative Forum (Necof) meeting to explain the commission’s preparedness at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe last Wednesday, electoral stakeholders took MEC to task to address security and on-off internet connectivity ahead of the elections.
The sentiments followed hiccups encountered in the dry run of the election management system in 73 of the 229 constituencies the previous week.
But Mtalimanja challenged internet providers, namely TNM plc and Airtel Malawi plc to eliminate the internet challenges to facilitate smooth and secure electronic transfer of results from constituencies to the national tally centre in Lilongwe.
ICT Association of Malawi representative Andrew Kamwendo asked MEC to establish a backup and cybersecurity plan to avert disruptions caused by unstable network, hackers and congestion which could compromise the functioning of the election management devices on the polling day.
On the polling day, about 7.2 million registered voters will queue in 15 148 polling stations in lines of not less than 600 people each to elect the President, 228 parliamentarians and 503 ward councillors.
The 229th parliamentarian, Lawrence Chaziya of Lilongwe Chilobwe Constituency, won his seat unopposed as did Nyang’amiro Ward councillor Hilton Masache of the same area. MEC has suspended councillorship elections in five wards following the deaths of candidates, including Abraham Nyondo who died yesterday morning in Chirunga Ward and Zomba City North.
MEC has recruited 121 044 temporary workers to manage these elections, with the dispatch of staff, ballots and electoral materials to all polling centres expected to be conducted from Monday next week.
