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MEC to assess first-past-the-post system

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) said yesterday it has embarked on reforms that include assessing the current first-past-the-post voting system.

MEC commissioner Emmanuel Chinkwita-Phiri said this when he opened a Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (Bridge) Training on Electoral Systems in Blantyre yesterday.

Good voting system? Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters celebrating their party’s victory in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections
Good voting system? Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters celebrating their party’s victory in the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections

He said the training will provide knowledge and equip MEC commissioners, political party secretaries general and electoral reforms task force with full understanding of electoral systems.

Said Chinkwita-Phiri: “The module will define what an electoral system is, why we have electoral systems and why they are important.”

He said the programme will also focus on how to determine pros and cons of the different electoral systems and assist participants to decide on which system is fairest and suitable.

One of the participants, United Democratic Front (UDF) secretary general  Kandi Padambo, said his expectation from the training is to gain knowledge about  different electoral systems.

He said the main challenge with the first-past-the-post system is that leaders can be elected with fewer votes than the combined votes that alternative candidates amassed.

The training is being supported by the European Union Democratic Governance Programme (EU-GDP).

The EU DGP is providing the support to the commission within and outside the basket fund.

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