Party monitors shun Mzuzu registration exercise

Some political party monitors are shunning the voters’ registration exercise currently underway in Mzuzu.

A visit by the Malawi Electoral Commission(MEC) stringer on Monday and Tuesday to Mbawemi Community-based Organisation(CBO) in Chibanja South, Katoto and Masasa primary schools, Zolozolo centres only found monitors from People’s Party (PP), the National Institute of Civic Education (Nice) Trust, the New Rainbow Coalition(NARC) and the Church and Society of the CCAP Synod of Livingstonia.

In separate interviews, the electoral supervisor at Mbawemi centre Grace Simkonda and Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) quality control manager Alick Chaera confirmed that some big political parties in the country were not represented in the exercise.

But a senior United Democratic Front (UDF) official at Mzuzu regional office told The Nation the party’s monitors refused to observe the elections because they have not been paid allowances for the 2009 registration exercise.

The official did not say how much was not given in 2009, but said it was a huge sum.

UDF regional governor for the North, Kawenje Chirwa, confirmed in a telephone interview that party monitors are absent at the centres but added that it was the duty of aspirants to meet the welfare of monitors.

Afords’ regional chairperson for the North, George Mwanza, blamed the absence of the monitors on wrangles that followed the party’s convention some months ago in Mzuzu.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) chairperson for the North Herbert Mwanza said names of monitors were presented to Mzuzu City Council and MEC but he is yet was to find out what happened.

The registration exercise in phase nine is expected to be completed on December 18.