Opposition political parties have expressed concern with reports of missing records in the voters’ register.
The opposition said this is one of the reasons they have been calling on Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to engage an independent information and communications technology auditor for the September 16 General Election.
On Friday, MEC said it has launched a process of establishing the cause of the missing records in the preliminary voters’ register in some centres and how this will be rectified.
In separate interviews, UTM Party, People’s Party (PP), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Alliance for Democracy (Aford) said the issue has vindicated their frustrations over MEC’s failure to address their concerns regarding the electoral process.
DPP secretary general Peter Mukhito said their fear is that some registered voters will be turned back from polling centres on September 16.
He said: “This is why we have been agitating for the engagement of an independent auditor to inspect the whole system. The commission has been elusive on this point, but we will continue pressing even if it means going to the courts.”
On his part, UTM publicity secretary Felix Njawala said the missing of records could be a result of the commission’s reluctance to listen to the parties’ advice.
“But it is important that MEC should investigate and inform the public on exactly what happened,” he said.
Commenting on the issue, Aford publicity secretary Annie Maluwa said MEC should have been more proactive in preventing such discrepancies and urged the commission to ensure that all registered voters’ details are secure.
In a separate interview, PP secretary general Ben Chakhame said they would like the commission to engage the parties on the issue.
The incidents of missing records were noted during the final phase of the voter transfer process which ended on March 15 in eight councils.
The commission is expected to open centres next month for voters to inspect and verify their details in the voters’ register.
MEC director of media and public relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa, in a statement on Friday, said all registered voters should be assured that their details remain intact and that no duly registered voter will be disenfranchised.
Malawians will head to the polls on September 16 this year to elect a President, 229 members of Parliament and 509 ward councillors.
