Malawi voter registration facing challenges: DPP unhappy
Former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has expressed concern with the challenges and irregularities by the Malawi Electoral Commission in the ongoing voters registration exercise currently in the second phase.
According to DPP’s National Director of Elections Kondwani Nankhumwa, the party feels insecure with some of the published and alleged reports towards the registration exercise.
DPP has since listed some of the anomalies that they claim could lead to unfair elections if not immediately taken care of.
According to Nankhumwa, in Blantyre at the Blantyre Malabada centre, the name of the centre is not appearing in the summary of the sheet in the centres and it only reads Blantyre City and this has raised fears that “votes might be transferred to other centres”.
The party is also concerned that some of the centres remain under-staffed and are not being punctual.
“The party is also concerned that Mec officials are also sending back registers at 3pm in preparations for their knock off time which is 4:00pm”
“Some centres are understaffed resulting in long queues and consequently registrants failing to register and materials also a challenge,” noted Nankhumwa.
Nankhumwa has also said the alleged buying of voter registration cards and transportation of voters from Blantyre to Chikhwawa Central-as reported in the press speaks volume on how porous and insecure the electoral system is at the moment.
He therefore called upon the stakeholders to join hands in fighting and speaking with one voice.
“We also ask fellow stakeholders such as ruling PP to add its voice to these concerns as their continued silence would paint a picture that to them everything is rosy during this registration.”
“We believe the voice of concern by the ruling PP will make a difference and will push the commission to act with haste,” Nankhumwa said.
Meanwhile, the DPP has appealed to MEC not to jump into phase three of the registration but rather extend the period of the second phase while at the same time re-opening the centres for the first phase so
that the rights of those who are eligible to vote but failed to register do so.
Malawians are expected for the first time to go into tripartite elections in May 2014 where they will elect President, Member of Parliament and a ward councilor.
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