Thyolo prisoners handy in polls

Prisoners from Thyolo Prison were yesterday deployed at the district’s tally centre to help with loading of voting materials into vehicles in readiness for today’s polls.

The materials, which arrived at the tally centre on Sunday night, were being distributed to the district’s seven constituencies.

The prisoners, clad in their white uniform, joined the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and some police officers in unpacking the materials and loading them into vehicles.

The tally centre, situated about 100 metres from the district commissioner’s (DC) office, was surrounded by dozens of Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force (MDF) officers.

Thyolo Police Station spokesperson Edith Kachotsa said there was no problem at least from the time the materials arrived to yesterday afternoon as the distribution was in progress.

She said the materials were being dispatched to Thyolo West, Thyolo South West, Thyolo South, Thyolo Central, Thyolo Thava, Thyolo East and Thyolo North constituencies.

Kachotsa said police anticipated peaceful voting process.

She assured security and appealed to leaders of the political parties to approach the elections with maturity.

There was calm outside the tally centre and the loading of the materials into the vehicles was smooth and systematic, with MEC officials seemingly on top of their game.

There was no sign of panic.