Malawi electoral body rules out constituency, ward demarcation exercise
Officials from the Malawi Electoral Commission have ruled out constituency and ward demarcation exercise as earlier planned.
MEC chaiperson Jane Ansah said this was due to lack of data base.
Instead, she said the demarcation exercise will be done in 2020 using the 2018 population census.
The law provides that the constituency and ward demarcation exercise be done every five years.
Ansah met elections stakeholders on Monday in Lilongwe.
But the director of elections in Malawi Congress Party (MCP) said the party is disappointed by the failure to demarcate some constituencies and wards.
“Some of the constituencies and wards are too big for one person. The vastness o their areas make them not to work efficiently and effectively,” he said.
Currently there are 193 constituencies and some quarters of society feels this is too many for the small Malawi with just 17 million people.
I applaud the decison taken by EC Chairperson Justice Jane Mayemu Ansah not to demarcate some constituencies and wards.
Malawi is too small to have over 199 constituencies and many wards. More constituncies and wards would merely be a
drain on the country’s funds or resources. After all MPs and Ward Councillors are failing to develop their constituencises
and wards as required. The structures that they are putting up are of poor quality such that they do not last long. Much of
funds they receive such as CDF is abused long before it reaches the intended projects.