By Burnett Munthali
In a statement made today in Parliament, George Chaponda, the leader of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and also the leader of the opposition in Parliament, claimed that he and his colleagues cannot provide evidence regarding the discovery of voter registration documents at the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) warehouse in Kanengo. He argued that it would be difficult to present the physical evidence, including the data servers and other materials, in Parliament.
Chaponda explained that members of Parliament who visited the NFRA warehouse would not be able to bring the evidence back to Parliament as it was a matter for the courts to handle. He indicated that, as is customary in legal matters, evidence should be presented in a court of law where proper procedures could be followed.
In response to Chaponda’s claims, Deputy Speaker of Parliament Aishah Adams called on him to bring forward the evidence within the required time frame, stating that the court proceedings operate differently from Parliamentary procedures. Adams emphasized that if Chaponda wanted to present the alleged evidence to support his claims, he should do so in accordance with legal protocols.
Madalitso Kazombo, the Deputy Speaker, also urged Chaponda to provide the evidence within 48 hours, particularly in light of reports that the National Registration Bureau (NRB) was involved in printing national IDs and that the documents had been found at the NFRA warehouse in Kanengo, Lilongwe. Kazombo stressed that transparency and accountability are critical, and the evidence could shed light on the seriousness of the allegations, especially given the upcoming 2025 elections.
The ongoing debate has sparked concern among political and civil society leaders who have called for thorough investigations into the alleged irregularities. They have urged both the NRB and other responsible authorities to address the situation and ensure that the integrity of the electoral process is maintained.
As the situation unfolds, the public eagerly awaits further clarification and the delivery of evidence that could have a significant impact on Malawi’s electoral landscape.
