Another poll gadget misses: Credibility of 2019 Malawi votes in question

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is missing a laptop with crucial elections data just days after a biometric voter registration kit went missing and was found in Mozambique, raising more suspicions of of possible rigging in the 2019 Tripartite Elections.

Ansah  inspecting registration : Credibility of her leadership of Malawi Electoral Commission has been severely damaged

MEC officials say the laptop went missing between Katoto Secondary School in Mzuzu and Chitipa where the officials went for the ongoing registration exercise.

The laptop from registration kit 1241 went missing between October 23 and 24 as well as a power bank.

“They found that there was no laptop, power bank and its cable was damaged. The matter was reported to Mzuzu police,” said a senior MEC official who asked not to be named.

MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa and police spokesperson in Mzuzu Peter Kalaya asked for more time before commenting on the matter.

The poll officials are this week set to meet political party representatives and other stakeholders after the  a biometric voter registration kit used in the ongoing voter registration exercise was found on a train in Mozambique.

But MEC officials are playing down the matter, saying this was mere theft not intentional rigging and that that all the data in the recovered kit is intact as it was encrypted.

The recovered kit contained data for those who registered for citizenship at Ndonda in Kasungu, Nthuwila School in Ntchisi, and Chauwa School in Lilongwe and got lost as it was being transported in an open Tata truck from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) en route to Mwanza, according to MEC.

MEC was informed of the recovery of the kit on September 29 2018 and reported to police.

The main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and civil society organisations (CSOs) under the banner of Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HDRC) have called for the immediate resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Justice Jane Ansah over incompetence in how she has handled the missing voter registration kit.

But Ansah is defiant to the demands, says she will not step down.

The concerns about rigging of elections emerged in July this year, when Vice-President Saulos Chilima, while launching the United Transformation Movement (UTM), alleged that he is aware that government has procured a spying machine.

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Nzika ya Malawi
Nzika ya Malawi
5 years ago

Jane Ansah does not need to resign but, she should face the chop! She has proved to be incompetent & careless. Ma gadget kumangosowa ngati ma spoon? I, for one, do not trust her. Akuumilira bwanji paudindo akudziwa kuti zikumulaka? Ndiye kuti wadya kale blue cash ameneyu! She should be shown the exit door now, bring in Anastasia Msosa & start registration all over again. With her at the helm, 2019 polls are greatly compromised! Let us remove her now! Now! Now!!!

Yuda
Yuda
5 years ago

Blame it on the useless nowadays graduates employed by MEC. NSO census had the same problem these kids have no sense of seriousness.They are only intetesyed in money…

Apumbwa
Apumbwa
5 years ago

Ndiye mukuti SKC azafotokoze chiyani????

Vindere
Vindere
5 years ago

Chilima does not need to be summoned anymore. Evidence is written all over the wall.

Cheyo muysta
Cheyo muysta
5 years ago

This is a serious matter which requires serious minds NOT FACTLESS RANTING . The lost laptop had the custodian. This custodian must explain how such an important election resource got lost. Laptops are usually kept on an eagle’s eye KEPT ALONE THIS ONE WHICH HAS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.
Overall security arrangements during the registration exercise are questionable ESPECIALLY WHEN A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE HAPPENS TWICE????? Whether there is sabotage or not the the duty of the security is to get to the bottom of the problem, remedy it and prevent similar occerences in future.

chifundo
chifundo
5 years ago

A mec zikuoneseratu apa kuti the ruling DPP ndi amene akutumani,sizimasowa za NRB bwanji,zanuzi zavuta pati.

Alfred Minjo
Alfred Minjo
5 years ago

Zinazitu bwino nazo kumayamba mwaziona musanatukwanepo anthu osalakwa. These things are missing with Chilimas supporters who are still in the system and are partciipating in the voter registration exercices. I think SCK new what he meant when he said kuti akudziwa government wants to steal elections…This is an ALIBI. Just want to confuse the electrolates . A propaganda. Government, pkease watch out these people and their agenda towards the missing of all these that are said. A media naonso ali momwemo mu propagandayi.

BigMan
BigMan
5 years ago
Reply to  Alfred Minjo

Stop barking, what evidence do you have?

concerned citizen
concerned citizen
5 years ago

Malawians we must stand up against this. Our country is in danger. Those with information of similar incidences please come forth with the information. We need to get to the bottom of this before our country gets captured by a few greedy people.

TRUMP
TRUMP
5 years ago

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM
PETER –GOODAL — BEN PHIRI –DAUSI –BAKILI –CHAPONDA — MCHACHA — JOSE — NANKHUMWA –JAPPIE –ATUPELE — NGONGOLIWA ??? THE LINE UP TELLS US THE WHOLE STORY !!

Duduzane
5 years ago

Dpp simukuyankhulatu apa mukudziwa kanthu agalu inutiphana chaka chino

Central
Central
5 years ago
Reply to  Duduzane

kikikikikikikikikikiki koma Duduzane!! tchetcha tchetcha kodi……………….!! These guys are too reckless my Dear!

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