MEC launches Mulanje, Mangochi by-elections set for April 10

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) will on April 10 this year conduct by-elections w for councilors in Mulanje South-East- Milonde Ward and Mangochi North-East Malindi Ward.

Malindi Ward in Mangochi North East Constituency fell vacant following the death of councillor John Saidi Macollera who died on December 1, while Milonde Ward in Mulanje South East Constituency fell vacant on December 12 following the death of councillor Felix Majawa.

MEC chairperson Jane Ansah launched the by-elections at Malindi in Mangochi on Friday while MEC Commissioner Moffat Banda launched the Mulanje polls.

They both disclosed that  the commission will open centres for registration and voter verification from March 1 to March 5 2018.

“Centres will be open from 8am to 4pm throughout the period, including the weekend to provide an opportunity for everyone to access the centres. Registration of voters will be for those who are above 18 or will attain the voting age by the date of polling for the by- elections, 10th April, 2018,” Ansah said.

According to Ansah, those who registered for the May 20, 2014 Tripartite Elections will not register again but they will only need to verify their details in the voters’ register at the centre where they registered.

MEC commissioners clarified that registered voters who lost their voter certificates should go to the centre where they registered to get a replacement certificate that will enable them to vote in the April 10 by-elections.

The electoral body  has since encouraged women to contest in the two by-elections.

“We are encouraging more women to participate in these by-elections and that is why the entry fee differs,” Banda said in Mulanje.

He, therefore, appealed to traditional leaders and the community at large to encourage more women to participate, noting that the number of women in elected positions in the country was becoming smaller every day.

MEC has  set March 7 to receive nomination papers from all candidates through the respective ward returning officers offices.

The official campaign period shall start on March 13 and will end on April 8, before the inspection of polling materials in all polling stations on April 9 2018