Proposal to change Malawi election dates from May to September
President Peter Mutharika could end up staying in power unchallenged till September 2019 if the election date is extended Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Jane Ansah has informed Parliament Legal Affairs committee of the proposal to consider extending the 2019 election date to allow people more time to cast their votes.
But chairperson of the Legal Affairs committee, Maxwell Thyolera, who belongs to main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) said the initial voting day should be maintained for next year’s polls and if anything change should be for 2024.
Ansah informed the committee that the proposal is part of the reforms the commission plans to effect before the next year’s tripartite elections.
She said the reforms would require a Constitutional Amendment in Parliament on the schedule of the polls shifting from the Tuesday in the third week of May in the fifth year after the previous general election to September.
According to Ansah, in May Malawi is in cold weather and there are short days and long nights geographically as compared to summer time in September which has long days.
“We think it would be better if the days are shifted,” MEC chairperson said.
However, Ansah said the change is not final but one of the reforms the electoral body are “contemplating to propose.”
The opposition want the reforms to change the first-past-the-post and the-winner-takes all voting system and replace it with 50-plus-one provision for electing a president.
Under the 50+1 electoral system, the triumphant contender is decided on the basis of getting a majority 50 percent plus one of the votes to win.
In Malawi, a simple majority is currently required for one to win the presidency without provision for a runoff election.
Jane Ansa please act like an educated woman.kumangomvera zili zonse kwa chani?you think anthu ku lower shire angakaime pa nzere mu september nkuvota mmene kumatenthera muja?cholinga anthu akakanike kumuvotera Sidik Mia.Wake up woman before its too late.U yes bwana siukuthandizani mai.Evelyn Mwapasa was incorruptible thats why anamuchotsa and inu nde muzingokhalira u yes bwana mpaka liti?oh shame…ndimakwiya ndikamaona azimai ali pa fore front kupanga ndikuvomeleza zinthu zopanda pake.
Thats a direct instruction from peter muthalika. The appointing authority. Mec can never be independent if its commissioners r appointed by the president. She is a blue eyed woman & thats an attempt to buy time for dpp. Dont distort history woman this will haunt you
musatiyambe.JENI khala cete waka kuputa njuci uku and dont play up our minds or brain wash us pease. ngati mwaonjezeredwa kapambala just psatila manja mphecepece before more fire. i repeat plesase please do not provoke us with wicked ideas.
koma mai ameneyi kukalamba olo chani, her facts doesn’t make any sense, she is not capable enough to hold that post just resign before people start matching against you
they have been bribed by DPP so they can rig elections??????????????????????????????????????????????????
It is better for Malawians to demand removal of Jane Ansah as soon as possible. She is not making decisions as Chairperson, but as a puppet. Apart from being the Chair for MEC , she is supposed to advise Government on electoral maters. But by look of things Government is advising her – useless!!
Unless you have other reason, that is a total lame excuse.mxieeeeew
You pple do you have brain in your heads.. September is not conducive for someone to stand on a quee for long… The heat is unbearable.. consider pple in lower shire and lakeshore districts.. who would withstand the line for more than 2hrs in these area during the proposed time.. May is ideal.. unless you have other reasons..
We can not vote in September no. Weather is not an issue here if our children start writing exams in May it means cold weather is good for national event such as elections. We don’t want people to collapse on the que in southern region it rainy season already and dpp tactics to remain in power is very interesting. These people are going out state of house May 2019 not September, Jane Ansah samala a dpp akupwetekesa. Ife sitiimva.
This is Dpp propaganda a Malawi tisalole izi.
Malawi! Malawi! Malawi!
I think MEC is not serious. The reason given is not valid.
Mamie kagoneninge waka lekani za chamba izo anthu azifa opanda mankhwala mpaka pa sepitemba goooooo away jane
Thyolera, Malawians have vowed never to accept your partisan proposed changes. If some changes are to be shifted to 2024, then it must be all the changes.
You must be reminded that the 50+1 requirement will apply to all elected offices including that of MPs and Councillors. No compromise on that. We are not ready to be always copying from others; now it’s our time for others to copy from us.
According to Public Affairs Committee, 50+1 rule provides evidence of mandate and legitimacy. We do not want illegitimate and no mandate MPs and councillors. All MPs and Councillors must pass this test.
As long as impeachment provision remains in our statutes, the recall provision must be there too. Malawians must not compromise on this.
A Kongilesi ngati mumanamizana kuti you will get into government through the backdoor ndiye sizitheka. All the three elected office bearers must pass the 50+1 test!!!!
You are such a wasted sperm.
Hahahahahaha! kuphika Nsima wophikayo mkumaikana kudya, what is it can come in your mind Mr Hatton?
Are you aware kuti reforms was one of the most top proposal in the manifestation of your party? if you thought M.C.P wanted to get in power through the back door as you are saying, who opened the door? was it not your Government?Funso langa ndilakuti, kodi nthawi zina manyazi simumakhala nawo? enafe timachita manyazi kwathu kuno kukapotoka, kwanuko manyazi kulibeko?
You think MCP is like DPP who came through the window? Kulumbiritsa usiku si chamba ndi ufiti wa Mathanyula umenewo? Wait and see MCP 2019 is coming into government very smart, masana and with 50+1. So go tell your shithole of president called mutharika
Ukufuna kubera basi.may yemweyo.and who has told you kuti ife tikudana ndikuzizira.mwasowa zonena.magetsi akuzimazima wa tikhale so nawo mpakana September?plz plz asah don’t try our hearts.ingozisiyani ife may tikufuna Malawi anveko zinapa isah.
Ukufuna kubera basi.may yemweyo.and who has told you kuti ife tikudana ndikuzizira.mwasowa zonena.magetsi akuzimazima wa tikhale so nawo mpakana September?plz plz asah don’t try our hearts.ingozisiyani ife may tikufuna Malawi anveko zinapa isah.
Mai Ansah ngati mumapemphera kwa Mulungu, siyani izi muchitazi muphesa fuko la Malawi. Yankhani mafunso awa kumene muliko?
1. Kuzizira kapena weather yayamba liti mu May?
2. Wadandaula zakuzizira ndani kwa inu?
3. Kodi mmesa mugwiritsa njira zofulumira kuwerenga ma vote, ndiye short days will mean what?
4. Kodi mmesa munakana kuti olo ma electoral reforms atheke inu a MEC mulipe nthawi ya preparations to implement them? Why change now? Is the change going to accommodate them?
5. Opanga constitution sanawone May kuti amakhala bwanji?
6. Kodi bwanji maganizo osinthawo akukubwera kutasala miyezi 15 yokha?
My conclusion, do whatever you want to do and you can shade our blood this time. This election is not like 2014. We need clean management of the election otherwise you are putting our nation on fire. Whether you read these or not, let all you fellow commissioners know this.
Ndife aulemu and a mtendere kwabasi and we promote peace but if you provoke it deliberately we may change like we have never been before.
Yes, we will mugabe you, nonsense!!!!!
So who will be in charge between May and September 2018 coz the current admistration mandate ends in May 2018. Clarify
Fuso lofunika kobasi, ndipo lofunika kuyankha. Komaso contract yawo itha may, what next?
Apa pekha mama mwateta give us a convincing reason. You mean we’ll have to bear for another 5 months with this government in power.Even may 2019 kwatalika mayi
Komatu such childish tactics have caused bloodshed elsewhere.
Another DRC in the making……
go to hell bitch. ur shithole plans will cost peoples lives.
Amayi inu a MEC ivani izi , kuno ku Malawi tinazolowera kuvota mwenzi wa May basi. Koma kwaveka kuti DPP ikufuna kugula machine obela zisankho amene kovuta kuti apezeke mu May machine apezeka September thats why MEC is underpressure just to have that machine ,this is what we got from DPP camp, you MEC here in Malawi election are conducted in May finish,are there.
Jane Ansah am very sure u are not the right person to hold that office. U are too bias. Remember wat u did with the byelections in lilongwe. U shifted the date for the election to October coz u wanted dpp to put it’s house in order. U thought by siding with the dirty people’s party would win. Look what happened. So too this time u want to connive with the same thieves to rig elections. GOD is watching.
Dont worry Toka, experience has taught us that oterewa ayandikira manda (dzenje la imfa) May safika mayiyu. Chiwanda cha imfa is talking to her chikumufuna. Mbendera pano alikuti? Rest in peace Jane Ansa
Let us try 1 st January and it should begin in 2019.
Kkkkkkkkkkkkkkk
Aganizileni anthu aku Nsanje ife. its too hot here. June may OK. people’s heart are already burning for the polls
Even June kwatalika, Mathanyula term yake ikutha May, 2019 no plus. Nonsense. Is it us who told him to fail miserably in performing? Zamukanika and we dont need him. Mwina tikavote March it will be better.
This was in the electral reforms bill and the government rejected so there is no need to change. Komaso nkhani yofunikira Kwambiri ndikusitha nthawi youlutsa zotsatira ndi kulumbilitsidwa
May yomweyo basi. The weather is also very perfect in May.
DPP Booooma! APM Booooma! Inu a MCP chanu palibe. Get ready for a Landslide victory for the big man APM. Tamvana zimenezo?
Swiswiri wamtali mulomo ngati mulomo wa mulomole akutero.
Who has come to MEC and complained about the weather and which is good between cold and heat? Which of these can easily be overcomed by a person?
kkkkkkk koma mpofunika kuti mafunso amenewa ayankhidwe basi.
No wayyyyyy!!!!!! Already May, 2019 tikuona kuchedwa ife to remove this shithole of president and ukuti Sep chani? Iwe Ansah usandikwiyitse wamva? Why didnt you suggest this during JB time? We dont want, we will demonstrate and remove him ourselves come May 2019. Tikachita kududuluza kumkankhira outside state house
Chamba chimenecho Jane Ansah. Try it, hell will break loose
No need to change the dates hence winter is a conducive weather.
Malawians are also tired of this regime & it’s very unbearable to wait more months.
It’s a good proposal l but let’s implement it alongside other reforms i.e constituency re demarcation exercise, 50+1, etc for 2024 elections
We dont need to change the date and the month , more votes from where?mwagwanayo mai! mwambeleka Ng’ona inu.
Do we force people to go and vote? we campaign for votes, i dont see it necessary, chilipo chimene mufuna muchite pa period ya May to September, ndani sakukudziwani?
Zanu izo, we have experienced kuti chisankho chikapanda kuyenda bwino ndipo chilungamo chikasokonekela ndipo anthu akamdandaula,zuoneka kuti wa pampando wa zosankho, sakhalitsa.
With erratic rainfall seasons, it may be a bad gamble to go as far as September. July may be better.
May, no negotiations. Shthole of president is so much terrified of MCP that he wants to buy time. Wadyapo.
They want to leak the votes -they know they don’t have enough time they are under pressure don’t do it
This is stupid propaganda by the DPP led government, they want more time to prepare to rig the votes. It makes no sense; they blocked the 50+1 electoral reform bill but they will undoubtedly and overwhelmingly support this coz the DPP gurus are power hungry. They want more time to steal public funds and conceal the evidence.
There is a lot of heat in September. Do you really want people on the long queues in the hot sun? I personally don’t second the idea just for this reason. I know how long the queues can be and I know how hot September can be
By holding the Votes in May, the timing will give us four months of relief from what we have since suffered from the DPP. This proposed change cannot pass and should be rejected outright.