22 May 2025
Greetings from the Munda wa Chitedze Farm where I relocated from the hustle and bustle of your city. Peace and only peace reigns supreme here and we are not suffering peacefully.
The villagers around the farm had a laugh for the day when Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of women Mary Navicha said at the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) all inclusive conference in Blantyre that she would encourage a half-naked demonstration. Such protest, she said, is against the ‘Smartmatic’ the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is using in the electoral process.
It is not the first time DPP officials have proposed nude demonstrations, a thing one would find rather queer. One of the villagers, taking some chitedze pods into the barn remarked: “Why propose half-naked demos? She should have encouraged total nudity or fully dressed protests. Why give half measures?”
Whatever the case, the issue of ‘Smartmatic’ continues to rear its head in all arguments about the credibility of the September 16 elections. DPP president Peter Mutharika has been one of the strongest voices against the Elections Management Devices (EMDs) manufactured by the Dutch company Smartmatic. Other parties like the UDF, UTM, Aford and PDP have also weighed in in condemning the devices.
Many villagers around the farm have been wondering why it appears it is only the MCP that seems to be comfortable with the EMDs. Silence means consent.
Civil society organisations like Malawi First and the Cdedi have also been vocal against MEC using the EMDs come September 16.
MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja has stood her ground that the gadgets will be used in running the elections. Her argument has been simple: Choosing Smartmatic was not MEC’s unilateral decision as it was arrived at following involvement of other players like the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) and the National Elections Forum (Necof).
In fact, study tours were conducted in South Africa and Zambia where the company has provided the machines. Even further, due diligence was done through the issuance of a no-objection certificate from the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDAA), showing that the identification of Smartmatic to provide the service was procedural.
Dear Diary, we have other things to think over than worry about the DPP speaking the most about Smartmatic when it has a good number of commisoners in the MEC who were part and parcel of the process to procure the gadgets and service.
As a matter of fact, can’t the aggrieved parties seek judicial redress on this matter? Instead of threats for demonstrations and going about the streets half-naked, why can’t the DPP go to court about the issue?
They have a strong case because the records are there that elections have been challenged where Smartmatic has operated in countries like The Phillipines. In fact, Smartmatic controversial operations were questioned by President Donald Trump after the 2020 elections in America. Trump’s top allies and media friendly to the Republican Party brought out conspiracy theories about rigging when Trump lost the polls to Joe Biden.
So, those crying against the devices have a starting point to prove their case. MEC can’t be moved against the EMDs without such a court process. In fact, they can stand their ground since the devices have the blessings of other electoral partners like the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Of course, Smartmatic rebutted the Trump allegations and sued him and other entities for defamation.
Dear Diary, we are all going in circles here. Look, the registration was done using the EMDs. The transfers, verification and other processes were done using the system. It would be utterly impossible to repudiate the system only at the voting stage. It would make little or no sense at all.
It only needs a give-and-take situation. The opposition and civil society organisations are not entirely wrong on the credibility of the EMDs. Right now, MEC has conceded that the voter’s roll has some double registrations. We all saw that the then MEC commissioner Francis Kasaila had his name missing in the system when he wanted to make a transfer.
Such anomalies soil free and fair elections. Given the scenario, opposition parties and others involved, must press real hard for independent audits on the whole system. MEC has no reason to say no to a credible and independent audit of the whole election process. An audit is a must, without quivering.
