MEC has K10bn deficit, money needed ‘urgently’: Transport sorted in Malawi fresh polls

As the country is set to hold  the court-sanctioned fresh presidential election on Tuesday June 23 Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says government on Friday disbursed K10 billion to the electoral body but there is a deficit of another K10 billion which it needs “urgently” to ensure smooth conduct of the electoral process.

Kachale: This is not a private affair, this is a public duty with legal consequences and other ramifications

MEC chairperson Dr Chifundo Kachale told a media briefing on Sunday that the Commission need the other K10 billion on the K29 billion allocation in the Mid-Year Budget as revised in February this year, which it asks Treasury to release as a matter of urgency.

“K10 billion deficit, we need the money, it was budgeted for this event. We are running an election that parliament has budgeted for,” said Kachale who is a judge of the High Court of Malawi.

“The budget is implemented by the executive and we are fully confident that they will honour it.

“This is not a private affair, this is a public duty with legal consequences and other ramifications,” said Kachale.

Kachale—appointed to the task on June 7 this year—told  journalists that the Commission will still press to get the funds from Treasury to pay for services and goods procured to run the fresh elections.

“We need that money urgently and we will continue to engage the relevant parties so that they honour their commitments,” he said.

Last Thursday, Kachale bemoaned that vehicles to facilitate delivery of electoral materials were in short supply but on Sunday . said  the Commission has hired the 226 trucks which have been inspected by the Plant and Vehicle Hire and Engineering Services (PVHES) and are being deployed.

“On Thursday we had a shortfall of 1,379 station wagons because government had mobilized 1,067 vehicles of the 2,446 we require. Today the Commission wishes to inform all stakeholders that we have hired 1,379 station wagons to meet the shortfall.

“The Commission has also hired 60 station wagons and double cabins for use in voter mobilization and education campaign. These have been mounted with loudhailer equipment and have been dispatched to the councils,” said Kachale.

However, he said  with the  Covid-19 pandemic, the commission has been forced to abandon some of the strategies for public outreach like meetings with traditional leaders because they bring a lot of people to one place which can make observance of physical distance difficult to achieve.

The Commission is satisfied that transport is no longer an issue that could hamper the effective delivery of the election on Tuesday, according to Kachale.

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Good critic Mtamba
Good critic Mtamba
4 years ago

Executive what’s wrong guts just give the money we need to move on we are tired hearing about election for long now

BigMan
BigMan
4 years ago

Mwanamveka, vuto ndi chani?

Jinga
Jinga
4 years ago

The periodic updates are a breath of fresh air as they are a complete departure from what the previous commission gave us…. the nation was mostly kept in the dark leading to speculations and unnecessary tensions among the citizenry! Your transparency in keeping the nation up to date this far, should be commended!

Stay the course Dr. Kachale! Heaven is steadily watching as you steer this ship! May the Lord continously guide you!

Jose
Jose
4 years ago

Kodi a mwananveka ku finance mufuna mutchuke pa zoipa.reserve bank.syndicate yanu yaoneka plus budget director accountant general adavomereza koma vuto ndi tribalism president wakwathu asachoke pa mpando.Future malawi will not allow idiots to rule just becoz he or she comes from most populous tribe but quality.Its not a question of that chewa lomwe yaos are many in their tribes they will be ruling no.That is why there is 50 plus 1.kuti ukadalira kuti achewa okha andivotera joka akufera mmanja ukadalira kuti alomwe andivotera wagwa nayo ukadalira ayao andivotera wagwa nayo phiii.koma dalira kuti a Malawi andivotera.Mawa za mitundu zatha.presidenti tisankha… Read more »

Malawi belong to the citizens

DPP leaders hands off on the citizens money,give this guy money to do his job well, this tactics of giving the money the MEC in halves it’s not fair.We know Kut mukuziwa Kut mukutuluka mmboma, ndiye osabera Dala ndalama chifukwa mudzawona nyekhwe ulendo uno mutuluke clean.

Silica gell
4 years ago

You always say k10 billion deficit, just say the entire shortfall once and for all.

Kandulu
Kandulu
4 years ago

Give the money to MEC as a matter of urgency. This is tax payers money. What is Muhara and Peter’s problem? Can a court today rule quickly that MEC should receive all the money approved for this election or someone should face jail soon.

Peter Bakali
Peter Bakali
4 years ago

This elections will spike more Cases of Covid 2019 in Malawi for sure 100%

ERUTU
ERUTU
4 years ago

Don’t worry we’ll be there poti nyamayi yangokhala kusenda baasi 🔥🔥🔥🐓🐓🐓🇲🇼💪🏾

Dawn over Malawi
Dawn over Malawi
4 years ago

Honorable Dr Chifundo Kachale JD, I must say you exude a lot of confidence, professionalism and trust, you are a breath of fresh air considering where we are coming from phweeeeeeee!

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