MHRC says MEC should promote citizens’ right to vote:  Repeat voter registration phase one

The State-funded Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has asked Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah to consider  concerns  raised  by electoral stakeholders over the first phase of the voter registration exercise which had seen many people failing to register, saying they should  conduct the registration again.

Nungu: MHRC has written MEC

The first phase of the voter registration exercise was conducted in Dedza, Kasungu and Salima.

MEC had failed to handle the exercise as it was marked by persistent breakdown of registration equipment, lack or late delivery of fuel for generators, weak solar panels and inadequate registration materials, among others.

In a letter to Chief Elections Officer, Sammy Alfandika, MHRC Secretary David Nungu said the registration of voters has a bearing on the exercise of the right to vote enshrined in the Constitution under Section 40 (3).

“The Commission requests that you kindly assess the progress that MEC has so far made during Phase One of the registration process with a view to addressing any insufficiencies,” reads the letter.

MHRC has urged the electoral body to pay due attention to the correlation between the right to vote and the source of authority to govern, as enshrined in Section 6 of the Constitution.

Last Thursday, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazarus Chakwera, who is also leader of opposition in Parliament, stormed MEC offices in Blantyre and met its chairperson Jane Ansah to discuss concerns over the first phase of the voter registration exercise.

Ansah said there will be a national consultative meeting this Tuesday to discuss the complaints.

But political parties represented in Parliament has said MEC should give Malawians another chance to register in areas where there was low turnout due to problems encountered.

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Kandawe
Kandawe
5 years ago

Zoona a MEC akuyenela kubweleza kalembelayu chifukwa ngati kwathu Kuno Ku Shayona anthu amabwelera osalembetsa chifukwa choti makina ojambulira a NRB anali owonongeka ndipo adadzakonzedwa kutatsala masiku anayi okha kuti atseke

Truth pains
Truth pains
5 years ago

Well said MHRC koma do more than this. Well said people I agree with you. If MEC cannot handle the registration will it handle the election? Brilliant question my friend cognitive. You have made my day

Napoleone
Napoleone
5 years ago

Nungu plse tamakososolani things zanu. The issue is not MEC . The issue is that people are frustrated with their representatives. There is a saying , you can’t force a horse to drink water at the river, if it is not thirsty it will not drink, notmatter you push its head into the water, it won’t drink. The same applies to the people who refused to register. It is their choice, their right to vote or not. This should be food for thought to those aspiring to represent the people that they are getting tired if you are doing nothing.… Read more »

mtete
mtete
5 years ago

Anyone against the request by MHRC’s Mr Nungu has a hidden agenda and is pro RIGGING of the 2019 election’s with Mrs. Ansah as the facilitator.

Shambize
Shambize
5 years ago

MEC should simply take peoples views. MEC is a public body and must work in the interst of the public which in this case is to conduct the Registration for additional days. Peaceful elections begin with ability to take views of others.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
5 years ago

well spoken, if MEC is failing to handle registration exercise , will it handle the real election.

maseko
maseko
5 years ago

After all the money MEC is using money belonging to Malawians and not individuals. It is only right and proper that the exercise is repeated. This is a fact. Otherwise, let them stand aside if they can’t listen to the owners of the funds

Nalingula
Nalingula
5 years ago

MEC should repeat the exercise in Kasungu ,Salima and Dedza.No one should be denied the right to a Vote.There were so many challenges including lack of Proper Civic Education. Titoona chirichonse .

higo
higo
5 years ago
Reply to  Nalingula

Musova. Chakwera kukamwa mweeee pa Zodiak kulengeza kuti anthu akalembetse. Ife tili konkuno tidalembetsa. Shadow wina wa tambala wakuda amatenga fans yake mu galimoto kupita kokalembetsa. Likanakhala boma bwenzi nkhani ili mkamwakamwa. Tsono ma MP amafuna ma 80pin aja bwanji sadawauze anthu wo kukalembetsa? MCP is as dead as before. After the match-fixed so called convention, it’s only their president, Mia, not Chakwera who is beamed by Zodiak. Kmapeni mumaidziwa inu? Simudati mulira. Ukakhala mzukwawo wa kaliati no deal. United Transport of Malawi musova. Mumangomva ndale lero mwatsamwidwa kusadache.

kanchenga
kanchenga
5 years ago
Reply to  higo

No problem if we can’t change by voting we will use the barrel of the gun. Enough is enough. Musayese za zikwanje zija ayiii

Zam'tonda
Zam'tonda
5 years ago
Reply to  kanchenga

Don’t sweet talk us into a gun totting idiots it is that idle balderdash which can plunge our peaceful nation into postelection misery stop it our situation is not beyond contact and dialogue

NYAKULA NDI NG'ONA
NYAKULA NDI NG'ONA
5 years ago
Reply to  kanchenga

This is treasonous akulu and childish! Nkhondo umaidziwa iwe! Chibwana etii!

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