MEC calls for names of monitors for October by-elections
The Malawi Electoral Commission is requesting all political parties, aspiring candidates and civil society organizations wishing to monitor the for the October 7bye-elections to submit names of their monitors by August 28, 2014 to the Constituency Returning Officer or the District Commissioner’s office or accreditation.
The Commissions says all monitors without accreditation shall not be granted access to the centers.
“Names of monitors should be submitted using form REG.014 which can be obtained from the Constituency Returning Officer or District Commissioners’ offices from Monday, August 25, 2014. The form can also be downloaded from MEC website www.mec.org.mw .”
Chief Elections Officer Willie Kalonga says in a statement that each political party, candidate or civil society organization shall be allowed a maximum of two monitors per centre at a time adding that the list of centres is available from the Constituency Returning Office or the District Commissioner’s office.
“The Commission is urging stakeholders to identify literate monitors with good numeracy and comprehension skills and from the vicinity of the centres so that they can assist in identifying eligible registrants.
The Malawi Electoral Commission is expected to hold by-elections in the country’s two constituencies and five wards on October 7.
The constituencies are Thyolo East which fell vacant after its parliamentary candidate Peter Mutharika won the seat of the president, and Blantyre North where its candidate died prior to the elections.
The wards are; Lisanjala in Machinga Likwenu Constituency, Kandeu in Ntcheu North East Constituency, Lifupa, in Kasungu West Constituency , Mbalachanda in Mzimba Central Constituency and Zgeba in Karonga-Nyungwe Constituency.
In preparation for the by-elections, the Commission will conduct voter registration for persons, who will have turned 18 years after May 20, 2014 or will turn 18 byOctober 7, 2014, from 4 to 8th September, 2014.
During the same period the Commission will also conduct voter verification exercise for persons who already registered during the Tripartite Elections.
