Political parties and some civil society organisations (CSOs) insist that they will proceed with their planned protests in Lilongwe today, defying a plea from Lilongwe District Council to postpone the demonstration.
Events relating to the demonstrations happened so swiftly yesterday.
Firstly, the aggrieved parties held a media conference in Lilongwe to confirm their planned vigil at MEC premises in protest against the electoral body and National Registration Bureau (NRB) leadership as well as the use of Smartmatics information and communication technology’s election management system, among others.
But hours later, Lilongwe district commissioner Lawford Palani wrote them asking the parties to reschedule the planned demonstration and vigils because the Malawi Police Service is stretched and would not be able to provide adequate security.
Reads the letter: “This is so because on the said date 13 November, 2024, the Malawi Police Service will not be able to provide adequate security due to its engagement to other equally important assignments.”
But in an interview, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) publicity secretary Shadric Namalomba, speaking on behalf of the group planning the vigils, said the demonstration will proceed. He said the protesters do not need the police.
He said: “Which police are they talking about? The same police that does not act when we are being attacked? Where were they when DPP members were being attacked at Mbowe [in Lilongwe]? Where were they when DPP members were being attacked [at Msundwe in Lilongwe] on their way to Mchinji for a rally?
“In fact, we don’t need the police. By law we are supposed to notify them that we are holding demonstrations and we have done that, so we are going ahead.”
And addressing the press earlier yesterday, Namalomba said the protesters will hold vigils at MEC offices in Lilongwe until their demands are addressed.
He said the opposition parties, namely DPP, United Democratic Front (UDF), Alliance for Democracy (Aford), UTM and other stakeholders want MEC to disengage the election management devices (EMD) supplied by Smartmatic. They also want MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja, MEC chief elections officer Andrew Mpesi and NRB Principal Secretary Mphatso Sambo to step down.
Namalomba claimed that Mtalimanja, a judge of the High Court of Malawi, was compromised because of her link to a former Malawi Congress Party (MCP) politician, as such, cannot have the trust of other parties.
The parties further allege that Mpesi is an MCP operative and incapable of overseeing an independent election while Sambo is being asked to step down for allegedly failing to manage the national identity card (ID) registration to enable all eligible voters to register for the September 16 2025 General Election.
The parties are also demanding use of manual transmission of election results, saying the electronic transmission is prone to rigging. Further, they want independent ICT auditors to monitor MEC elections system.
Asked why the parties are bitter when they have their nominated commissioners in MEC, Namalomba said the commissioners are not DPP, but are for the electoral body.
But in a letter dated November 11 2024 addressed to secretaries general of opposition parties demanding her resignation, Mtalimanja said MEC is committed to discharging its powers and functions within the framework of the country’s Constitution.
She added that MEC is also committed to upholding transparency, accountability and cooperation with all stakeholders in managing the elections.
“Compliance with the law and abiding by these principles are both central to ensuring a credible and constitutionally compliant General Election in 2025,” said Mtalimanja.
She also said the commission remains open to further dialogue to resolve any outstanding issues or any issue that may not have been sufficiently addressed.
Mtalimanja appealed to political parties and all electoral stakeholders to ensure constructive engagement grounded in good faith.
Malawi will be holding elections next year. However opposition parties have raised concerns fearing that the elections will not be credible.
