By Linda Kwanjana
Former President Arthur Peter Mutharika told the public at Katoto Freedom Park on Saturday afternoon September 21st, 2024 that he is in store of information that alleges that the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) is engaged in a clandestine operation to rig next year’s elections through the National Registration Bureau (NRB).
Ironically, Mutharika failed to shade more light on the implementation plan of the so said scheme. A clear indicator that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) leader is vacuum on the issue.
However, investigations reveal no any Malawi Congress Party (MCP) possesses such evil plans to manipulate the electoral process as such acts dilute the power of a democratic Malawi.
Mutharika called upon President Chakwera to cease what he termed an “ _alleged plot_ ” asserting that the integrity of elections is paramount within any democratic setting.
A million dollar question is, does Mutharika understand the functionalities of NRB? Legally, NRB is there to operate independently.
Mutharika’s statement sparks unnecessary divisive public debate out of mare allegations. A clear symbol of a promoter of national disunity.
What Mutharika preached in Mzuzu raises eyebrows on credibility of his law credentials and legal accolades.
*NRB Says No Foul Play In The Registration Process*
National Registration Bureau attributes some delays in the identity card registration to machine processes which takes a bit of time to produce identity cards.
Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Homeland Security Affairs Mphatso Sambo stresses the process takes between 3 and 5 minutes to produce one identity card translating to at least 100 Malawians per day making it not easy for many to be registered in a single day.
“Every Malawian who is eligible to be registered will be registered at an appropriate time as we are working in an open and transparent manner, for us is our mandate to register every Malawian,” Sambo highlighted.
According to the National Statistical Office, (NSO) over 50% of the country’s population are above 18 years of age, which gives an opportunity to the mandated NRB to register huge numbers.
According to report outcomes on the ongoing national mop-up registration, NRB continues to man significantly as 12 million citizens above the age of 16 are all registered across the country.
