Opposition reiterate call for MEC leadership resignation over ‘failure’ to address electoral demands
Four major opposition political parties have written a strongly worded letter to Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Anabel Mtalimanja, reiterating their call for her to resign.
In the letter dated 7th November, 2024—secretaries general of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), UTM Party and United Democratic Front (UDF)—also remind MEC of the demands they made at their previous two press conferences, including the resignation of MEC chief elections officer.
At their last press briefing, the parties gave MEC a 14-day ultimatum to address all their demands, which ends on 13th November.
However, the parties say MEC is so far undermining all the demands they are making.
“It is increasingly evident and wholesomely sickening to see how arrogantly you are treating or even undermining all the demands we are making on behalf of the well-meaning Malawians and in line with their constitutional rights,” reads in part the letter, signed by Linda Limbe AFORD, Peter Mukhito DPP, Patricia Kaliati UTM and Genarino Lemani UDF.
“As parties in the opposition, we want to speak on behalf of the Malawian people that our trust on your leadership and the suspicious manner in which you as MEC and the NRB are running the electoral process is rapidly waning out,” the letter states.
It is copied to, among others: Board Chairperson-Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), Principal Secretary-National Registration Bureau, Secretary General-United Nations, UN Resident Coordinator- Malawi and Chairperson-African Union (AU).
The parties are demanding the replacement of Mtalimanja and chief elections officer Andrew Mpesi for allegedly being sympathizers of Malawi Congress Party (MCP), a key member of the governing Tonse Alliance.
Other demands include, among others: pending of the second phase of the voter registration process until all complications that rocked the first phase are fully resolved, MEC should discontinue a contract with an information and communications technology (ICT) company Smartmatic, compliance to High Court’s ruling that NRB should be present in all registration centres to enable eligible voters without national identity (ID) cards to register.
“Failure to unconditionally meet these demands, after 13th November 2024 will call for unspecified actions including but not limited to unending vigils at MEC’s head and regional offices until all demands are met and in sheer pursuit of justice and fairness,” concludes the letter by the opposition secretaries general.
MEC was not immediately available for comment.
But MEC communications officer Richard Mveriwa is on record telling the media that the electoral body already responded to the opposition’s demands in an earlier statement.
MEC has also previously stated that Mtalimanja, a judge of the High Court of Malawi, and Mpesi were recruited on merit and following laid down procedures.
On the other hand, NRB indicated in a statement after the court’s judgement that it would open additional registration centres besides its existing district registration offices.
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