Parties launch ground games to push for IDs
M
ajor political parties have launched ground games to woo supporters to register for national identity cards (IDs), the only document legally acceptable for voter registration.
But the parties, especially those in the opposition, say their efforts are facing various challenges nationwide ranging from faulty equipment to system delays and information gaps at National Registration Bureau (NRB).
Meanwhile, opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has asked NRB to disclose information on the issuance of IDs in the country’s 28 districts.
In a letter dated August 27 2024 signed by DPP secretary general Peter Mukhito, the party has given the bureau seven days to provide information covering June 2020 to August 2024.
DPP said it has made the request in line with the Access to Information (ATI) Act and constitutional provisions.
In the letter, DPP said it already has accessed projections of eligible voters from National Statistical Office (NSO) and similar data from Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
Reads the letter: “…any inefficiency in the registration process under the NRB Act has a direct effect on the right to vote and may influence the outcome of any election organised under the Act.”
NRB spokesperson Norman Fulatira yesterday acknowledged receipt of the letter and said they will respond to DPP.
Meanwhile, several political parties have said they are doing their best to mobilise people to register with NRB and later with MEC.
UTM Party publicity secretary Felix Njawala said they are encouraging their supporters to register for the national ID despite challenges nationwide.
He singled out Blantyre and Chitipa districts as affected by “severe challenges” emanating from slowness of NRB officers to faulty equipment.
Malawi Congress Party publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila also said they are working hard to ensure that their supporters register.
“We are calling on all Malawians of voting age to register to vote,” she said.
Last week, UTM Party, Alliance for Democracy and United Democratic Front urged MEC to reconsider the use of election management devices which the commission has purchased for processes ahead of the 2025 General Election.
Recently, NRB disclosed that since 2016 it has registered 12 287 349 people aged 16 and above for national IDs, surpassing the initial target of 11.3 million.
NRB head of identity management Mbawaka Mwakhwawa said the 11 351 931 target was based on NSO population projections for 2024. The figure is also slightly higher than the United Nations population projections for 2024.
Section 4 (12) of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Act provides that the national IDs is the sole form of identification for voter registration.
