By Twink Jones Gadama
In a historic show of solidarity, Malawi’s major opposition parties have joined forces to express their dissatisfaction with the Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) handling of the upcoming elections.
The parties, including Malawi Congress Party (MCP), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Democratic Front (UDF), and United Transformation Movement (UTM), have penned a letter to the MEC and the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Malawi, highlighting their concerns regarding the electoral preparation process.
The letter, signed by the secretary-generals of the respective parties, cites several key issues observed during the recent Electronic Management Devices (EMDs) voter registration pilot phase.
Specifically, the parties note that the EMDs appeared inefficient, with estimates suggesting that a single registration process could take approximately 10 minutes.
This raises concerns about the potential for delays and disruptions on election day.
Another significant concern raised by the parties is the lack of an independent ICT auditor, a crucial component that was present during the 2020 fresh elections.
The parties have recommended that an independent ICT auditor be recruited by the UNDP to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
Regarding vote transmission, the opposition parties have rejected electronic transportation, instead advocating for a manual system with backed-up election data.
This move is seen as a precautionary measure to prevent potential tampering or manipulation of election results.
The Malawi Electoral Commission has yet to respond to the letter, but the concerns raised by the opposition parties are significant.
With elections scheduled for September next year, the stakes are high.
Malawians will head to the polls to elect a president, members of parliament, and ward councilors in what is expected to be a highly contested and closely watched election.
Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera, who lost twice to President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika before the nullification of his second election in 2020, is expected to face off against Mutharika for the third time.
Chakwera’s popularity has taken a hit in recent times, with critics accusing him of economic mismanagement and attempting to rig the elections using the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and MEC.
The opposition parties’ united stance on these issues is a significant development, and their concerns warrant attention from the MEC and the international community.
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