Some opposition parties have called on Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and chief executive officer Andrew Mpesi to step down, claiming they are connected to the governing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and cannot be trusted to manage elections.
The parties, namely Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), UTM Party and Alliance for Democracy, also stated that they also want the electoral body’s director of procurement and director of information technology removed.
The parties made the call during a joint press briefing in Lilongwe yesterday aimed at registering concerns over the way MEC is handling the September 2025 General Elections preparations.
the press conference yesterday
Reading a statement on behalf of the parties, DPP publicity secretary Shadreck Namalomba faulted MEC for allegedly failing to ensure transparency and accountability in its processes, further calling for the removal of Mtalimanja, and Mpesi over their alleged links to the governing MCP.
He questioned MEC’s decision to engage Smartmatic as the supplier of electoral management devices and related software when the company allegedly has a questionable track record.
Said Namalomba: “MEC chairperson Justice Anabel Mtalimanja must honourably step down for conflict of political interest. MEC CEO, Mr. Andrew Mpesi must step down because of his undisputed partisanship and consequently be replaced with an impartial officer.
“MEC should also explain to Malawians why it settled for Smartmatic without conducting due diligence. We are also surprised why MEC has decided to dump the 2019 software to procure a new one.”
The parties have since given MEC up to October 21 to abandon the use of the election management devices (EMDs) and any related software from Smartmatic company.
They further called on MEC to allow independent ICT auditors for the 2025 electoral processes, use manual transmission of results, and that the National Registration Bureau (NRB) should register people in MEC voter registration centres.
“If these issues are not resolved, MEC should not go ahead with registration, failing which we will conduct nationwide demonstrations,” the statement reads.
Taking his turn, DPP vice-president for the Eastern Region Bright Msaka accused Malawi Congress Party (MCP) of planning to rig elections.
He said Malawians will not accept to have the elections rigged, adding Malawians want to see a credible election.
On her part, UTM Party secretary general Patricia Kaliati said the parties are surprised that NRB registered more people in the Central Region but has failed to properly cover the Southern, Eastern, and Northern regions.
She said the NRB should ensure that every eligible voter is registered.
Aford vice-president Timothy Mtambo said opposition parties are not asking for favours, but want MEC to do what is right.
He said elections are a serious issue and wondered why MEC removed a system that ushered in the Tonse Alliance into government in favour of a new software for managing elections.
MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa yesterday said MEC will speak at an appropriate time.
In an interview yesterday MCP secretary general Richard Chimwendo Banda trashed the allegations that the MEC chair and CEO are connected to MCP, saying their positions at MEC have nothing to do with MCP.
“The opposition parties are only afraid of elections and are having election fever because MCP has won the hearts of many Malawians.”
