By Chisomo Phiri
Chisankho Watch, which monitored the phase three of the voter registration, has indicated that it recorded various malpractices including incidents of politicians issuing handouts to registration officials and potential registrants.
Chisankho Watch is a citizen elections observation coalition in the country which its primary purpose is to observe elections to enhance transparency, inclusivity and credibility of electoral process.
The oganization is made up of four organizations namely Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), the Public Affairs Committee (PAC), the Gender Justice Unit, and the Meeting Hub (mHub).
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday in Lilongwe,board member of the organisation, Reverend Father Mark Mkandawire,said Chisankho Watch documented and verified an incident at Nyamithuthu Registration Centre in Nsanje, where a member of Parliament from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) distributed K10 000 to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) voter registration staff.
“This action constitutes a breach of the Political Parties Act (2018) and Malawi Electoral Commission Code of Conduct and poses a significant risk to the credibility and impartiality of the MEC in overseeing the voter registration process,” said Mkandawire.
He also said verified reports in Lilongwe Likuni Constituency revealed that an MCP MP distributed cash handouts and soya pieces to potential registrants.
According to him, the MP promised access to loans through the National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) and distributed K5 000 to registrants on another day.
In Lilongwe City’s Mtandire-Mtsiliza Constituency and Lilongwe Demera Constituency, Mkandawire said politicians offered K2 000, K1 000, and soya pieces to potential registrants.
He said: “Similar instances of coercion and inducement were recorded during the first and second phases of the voter registration exercise in Nkhotakota, Salima, Ntchisi, Nkhata Bay, and Mchinji.These practices raise serious concerns about voter bribery.”
Mkandawire also mentioned cases of harassment and intimidation of registration officials.
For instance, he singled out a case on December 8, at the demonstration school in Lumbazi- Magweru Constituency, where about 15 people who came to the centre after closing time threatened registration officials when they were asked to return on another day.
“To avoid escalating the situation, the supervisor, party monitors, and security personnel allowed them to register, despite this being against standard procedures,” he said.
Another case mentioned was that of November 29, 2024 at Mawelo F.P. School Registration Centre in Lilongwe, Likuni Constituency, where a commotion erupted when individuals were denied registration because they were not registered with National Registration Bureau(ACB).
Mkandawire said all the incidents underscore the need for enhanced security measures, strict enforcement of registration protocols, and enhanced voter education on the procedures and registration time.
Malawi will conduct tripartite elections on September 16,2025.
Currently, a total of 2, 515,315 voters have been registered for the elections.
Of the total number, 1,095,551 are male and 1,427, 764 are female.
