Political parties have stayed away from the voter verification exercise conducted by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) in four constituencies and nine wards nationwide ahead of the March 17 2026 by-elections.
The two-day exercise, which started on Tuesday and ended yesterday, recorded no participation from political parties and independent candidates’ monitors in almost all areas, according to MEC.
When MEC commissioner Emmanuel Fabiano visited three polling centres in Blantyre West Constituency on Tuesday and another three polling centres in Muonekera Ward in Thyolo Goliati Constituency yesterday, there were no representatives from almost all the political parties or independent candidates present. The situation was almost similar in Rumphi Central and Nkhotakota Liwaladzi constituencies where only few polling centres had party or independent candidates’ monitors.
Centre as polling staff look on. | Jonathan Pasungwi
Speaking in an interview after inspecting Chimpaya, Chimvu and Goliati polling stations in Muonekera Ward yesterday, Fabiano expressed concern over the absence of political party and independent candidates’ monitors, describing voter verification as a critical stage in the electoral process.
“As Malawi Electoral Commission, we provide information to candidates, voters and political parties that it is their responsibility to verify that their names appear correctly on the voters’ register. While we cannot force them to participate, it is a privilege and opportunity they need to take serious of,” he said.
The voter verification exercise allows registered voters to confirm their personal details and polling centres, and to request corrections where necessary ahead of the by-elections.
In an interview yesterday, Malawi Congress Party publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila expressed worry over the absence of her party’s monitors in some areas. She however asked for time for details.
But UTM secretary general Willet Kalonga justified the absence of his party’s monitors in some areas saying the party will not field candidates in all the by-elections areas.
The visit also revealed low turnout for voter verification exercise, as by 10am yesterday, about 120 voters had verified physically in Muonekera Ward against the 22 052 registered voters in the area.
MEC last month launched parliamentary and local government by-elections set for March 17 2026 to be held in four constituencies and nine wards.
The constituencies are Nkhotakota Liwaladzi, Dedza Mtakataka, Blantyre West and Rumphi Central.
On the other hand, wards earmarked for local government by-elections are Iyembe (Karonga Songwe), Luwinga (Mzuzu City North), Chilobwe (Lilongwe Chilobwe), Muonekela (Thyolo Goliati), Linthembwe (Dowa Ngara), Msitu (Mchinji South), Mikongo (Mangochi North East), Chanda (Zomba Chikomwe) and Chilunga (Zomba City North).
Data show that MEC registered 7 756 new valid voters during the registration exercise ahead of next month’s by-elections, adding the total number of registered voters in all the four constituencies and nine wards to 241 591.
