MEC bid to avoid Malawi post-election holocaust
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Dr. Jane Ansar has said mishandled elections have potential to bring chaos and conflicts in a country.
The MEC chairperson said this in Lilongwe during the launch of 2019 tripartite elections calendar under the theme: ‘Consolidating Malawi Democracy through the Ballot.’
She described elections as a security issue and observed that the country has experienced peace and stability since 1994 because of tolerance between winners and losers despite some brinks in the elections.
“Elections are a security issue. One mishandled election can degenerate into chaos and strife in a country,” she said.
Ansar said MEC was ready to create an environment for free, fair, cost- effective and credible elections, therefore pleaded for support from all stakeholders.
“Peace is very important in these elections, so everybody should go and vote without fear. We will carry our duty with independence and impartiality and will take decisions without taking orders from any person,” she said.”
The MEC chairperson observed that since elections on their own are a fertile ground for conflict, her institution has been strengthening Multiparty Liaison Committees (MPLC) to mitigate election-related conflicts.
She also singled out as a mile stone the review of the Media Code of Conduct and its distribution to media houses to prevent irresponsible reporting during the 2019 tripartite elections.
However, Chairperson for Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), Kandi Padambo, said according to their media monitoring report data on the public broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Cooperation, it was revealed it covered the then ruling party at the rate of 92.1 per cent during previous elections at the peril of the opposition parties.
Padambo also called on the law enforcers to discharge their duties diligently and in a nonpartisan manner in the coming elections.
He however, bemoaned the conduct of some traditional leaders who alter statements that may cause conflict and create unfavorable environment for some candidates.
At the launch function, the clergy prayed for peace and calm during the coming and much anticipated 2019 elections.
The delegates to the launch included cabinet ministers, Members of Parliament, government officials, civil society organization leaders, religious leaders and political party representatives among others.
According to MEC calendar of activities, registration of voters will start on 24th May and end on 30th August, 2018. Malawians will vote for the President, Member of Parliament and councilor on 21ST May 2019.
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Mukunama amayi inu, anakudyetsani kale chibani a DPP, bwanji simukuchitapo/kuyankhulapo kanthu MBC radio ikamaulutsa zonyoza a MCP??? Is that not chiyambi chachisokonezo mukunenachi??? Tiyenazoni koma la 40 lidzakwana coz yakula ndi dyera osati chilungamo
Koma MBC yo ikunena zonama? Ife tikupindula zedi we want to be well informed. Ndipo zambiri sitinamve za umve wa MCP. Nyansi zawo zikuoneka mmene oBusawo akuchitira handle zithu. Ena ndi aja aphungu a ku North amadandaula kuti koma fisi ndi fisi basi. What can you expect from a big dance. Chirombo ndi chirombo, gule ndi gule basi ngakhale mutamveka kolona.
MEC should be careful with controls over their servers. News has it that DPP has already developed software to hack into the servers just like they did in 2014. I suggest final and agreed tally figures with parties MUST be on stand alone computer. Or all trail of server updates MUST be made available to all stakeholders including trail of who update and source of updates. OTHERWISE there will be chaos as Malawians will not accept again what happened last time when election victory was stolen from some party in a broad day light. I do not care who wins… Read more »
Okay. I didn’t know kuti ife a DPP tawina kale chisankho tisanaponye. Mudzalira simunati. Ka bye election ndi national campaign ndizosiyana bambo. Tiyeni tidzaone amene adzapambane pa liwilo chaka chikudzachi.
Tawina kale
MEC we want actions not words. MBC is where you start, it is a public broadcaster and it must not be used to broadcast DPP campaign, please.