Nice hails MEC on local polls’ progress

National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has commended the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) for expediting Local Government By-elections and setting August 25 2015 as the day to conduct the by-elections.

Nice said this will give citizens equal representation in all the country’s wards.

Nice Trust executive director Ollen Mwalubunju hailed MEC for ensuring the by-elections go ahead. He observed that the absence of councillors in the wards denied citizens right to development.

He said: “The shut out of five wards have gagged citizen’s mouth from voicing out their views to their leaders as you know that councillors are vehicles of development who take the needs of the people from the community to the council. Therefore, for MEC to conduct the by-elections this coming August, it really deserves a pat on the back.”

Due to lack of funds, MEC had indefinitely postponed activities preceding the holding of the by-elections in five wards in Luchenza Municipal Council, Zomba City Council, Mangochi Town Council, Mzuzu City Council and Karonga District Council.

Last month, Nice asked government to mobilise and release funds needed for the polls.

Following MEC’s announcement on the local polls, registration and verification of voters will run from July 15 to 19 2015 in the affected wards while presentation of nomination papers for candidates in the wards will be held on July 28.

The MEC programme shows that submission of the nomination papers is slated for August 7.

MEC chief elections officer Willie Kalonga said MEC is an independent body, therefore, Malawians should expect credible elections.