With less than three months before Malawians head to the polls, confidence in the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is rapidly eroding especially among the country’s youths.
A new Afrobarometer survey conducted between 2024 and 2025 has revealed that 47 per cent of young people have no confidence in the electoral body, while only 37 per cent expressed trust in its leadership.
The findings add fuel to growing public discontent over the commission’s credibility and independence.
The report comes as waves of protests erupt across the country, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of MEC Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and the returning officer.
Protesters allege political bias, accusing Mtalimanja of having close ties to the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), as the daughter of its long-time former leader, the late John Tembo.
The timing of the protests and the release of the survey results have intensified scrutiny on MEC, which is tasked with overseeing the upcoming local government, legislative, and presidential elections scheduled for September 16, 2025.
As calls for electoral reforms and leadership change grow louder, questions linger over whether MEC can regain the public’s trust in time to deliver free, fair, and credible elections.
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