Malawi News

Malawi Electoral Commission tough on ‘gatecrashers’

Malawi Electoral Commission tough on ‘gatecrashers’

By Cathy Maulidi:

The Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has launched the 2025 general elections, with a clear message that those interested in positions will have to pay fees at the point of nomination paper collection.

This is in contrast to practice in previous elections, notably the 2019 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections, when some presidential candidates presented nomination papers without showing receipts as evidence of payment.

The electoral body ended up chalking off such candidates.

Speaking when she launched the elections at Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe yesterday, Mec Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja said all this is being done to facilitate the administration of free and fair elections.

“For the 2025 General Elections, the commission will announce the nomination fees in November 2024. Candidates or their representatives will need to pay the fees before collecting and these fees are non-refundable,” Mtalimanja said.

She then said they would start accepting names for monitors next week.

“Specifically, we want to inform political party leaders, those intending to run for office on a party ticket or as independents, CSO [civil society organisation] leaders and other stakeholders that from August 6 2024, we will begin accepting the names of party monitors who will oversee the voter registration process,” Mtalimanja said.

Mec said the registration of voters would commence in September this year and, through phases, run up to December 2024.

Mec has further indicated that the official campaign period will commence in July 2025 and end on September 14 the same year.

Voting would be on September 16, to run from 6am to 4pm.

Mec has reiterated the stance that only those with a national identity (ID) card can register to vote, saying, in accordance with Section 12 of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, every person registering on the voters’ roll is required to provide proof of citizenship registration with the National Registration Bureau (NRB).

Meanwhile, NRB Principal Secretary Mphatso Sambo has expressed optimism that the bureau would clear the backlog it has in no time.

“As of now, we have registered over 75 percent of Malawi’s population, including over 100 percent of those above 16 years, who are eligible to participate in voter registration,” Sambo said.

“We have targeted the entire estimated population, according to the National Statistical Office. To address the remaining gap, we have launched a national ID outreach programme, engaging district commissioners, MPs [members of Parliament], councillors and others. We are optimistic that we will register everyone by the end of August,” he added.

However, opposition Democratic Progressive Party secretary general (SG) Clement Mwale has expressed concern that NRB may not be able to register all eligible citizens before voter registration begins.

He strongly objects to Mec’s decision to only accept national IDs as proof of eligibility during voter registration, threatening legal action if the stance is not revised.

“The Constitution guarantees every Malawian the right to register and vote. By requiring a national ID, Mec is effectively restricting this right, which is unconstitutional,” Mwale said.

On his part, Malawi Congress Party SG Eisenhower Mkaka welcomed the launch of the election season, expressing his party’s readiness for the polls.

“With the launch of the election season, the time has come, and MCP is fully prepared and geared up for the election,” Mkaka stated.

During the launch, Mec also accredited 116 non-governmental organisations with certificates.

This means they will take part in voter education and observation.

However, the electoral body turned down 10 organisations due to lack of expertise and physical offices.

Mec also unveiled next year’s election theme song ‘Voti Yanu’, which has been done by Piksy.