OPPOSITION PARTIES UNITE AGAINST ELECTORAL COMMISSION

By Michael Martin//MALAWI

Five opposition parties in Malawi, including the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Transformation Movement (UTM), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), People’s Party (PP), and United Democratic Front (UDF), have joined forces to express their discontent with the National Registration Bureau (NRB) and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

In a bold statement, the parties are unhappy with the NRB’s failure to provide adequate voter registration facilities, resulting in long queues and inefficient services.

They claim that the NRB’s actions are inconsistent with the promises made during the stakeholders’ meeting on December 27, 2024, where it was agreed that voter registration would take place from December 29, 2024, to January 4, 2025.

The opposition parties are demanding that the NRB and MEC take immediate action to address the issues plaguing the voter registration process.

They are calling for an extension of the registration period to ensure that all eligible voters can participate.

Furthermore, they are urging the MEC to reconsider its decision to use electronic voting machines in the upcoming elections, citing concerns about their reliability and potential for manipulation.

Malawi has a history of electoral disputes, with the 2019 presidential election being nullified by the Constitutional Court due to irregularities.

The country is scheduled to hold its next general election in September 2025, and the opposition parties are keen to ensure that the electoral process is free, fair, and transparent.

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is responsible for overseeing the electoral process, while the National Registration Bureau (NRB) is tasked with registering voters.

The opposition parties’ concerns highlight the need for these institutions to work efficiently and transparently to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.