Malawi Electoral Commission apologises for an ‘insulting’ poster
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioner Nancy Tembo has apologised for a “discriminatory” impression which one of its civic and voter education posters for the 2014 Tripartite Elections gives to the public.
The poster in question depicts eligible voters lining up for the registration process with each of them wearing a pair of shoes.
Tembo made the apology on Monday after one of the traditional leaders at a registration sensitisation meeting in Mchinji observed that the poster insults eligible voters who do not have shoes.
The chief said the poster is discriminatory in nature and sends a wrong impression to the eligible voters who do not own a pair of shoes.
“I would like to register my concern that one of the posters carrying the voter education messages is discriminatory in nature as it mocks those that do not own shoes,” said the chief amid a round of applause.
But soon after his remarks, Tembo, while applauding the chief for the good observation, said it was indeed unfortunate that such a poster was allowed to be produced.
“Let me apologise on behalf of the commission for the wrong impression that the poster indeed gives to the general public. Soon after this meeting, I will also report to my colleagues about the issue,” she said.
Tembo added that it was also unfortunate that authorities at the commission failed to notice the wrong signal the poster was sending.
However, she urged the chiefs and the public to help in clearing the misconception.
Meanwhile, voter registration for Mchinji South and Mchinji South West constituencies is expected to start onOctober 15 to 28 2013.
