The on-going Voters roll inspection exercise, currently in second phase, has been marred by low turn-out with Malawi Elections Support Network (Mesn) taking to task Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) for failing to create much awareness for prospective voters to verify their information. The electoral body is compiling a voters list that will be used for […]
Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) vice chairperson Emma Kaliya has warned MESN partners managing funds for the organisation’s electoral programmes against applying ‘cashgate’ means to drain resources meant for programmes. She said donors would not hesitate to freeze their aid where funds are misappropriated. Kaliya was speaking on Wednesday in Lilongwe during an orientation of MESN’s regional […]
Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) has called on all registered voters to participate in the voters’ roll inspection exercise scheduled from Monday 24 March to April 5 to ensure that their details are correct. MESN chairperson Steve Duwa said in a statement that inspection of the voters’ roll is a very serious process in the electoral calendar and as […]
Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) has established an elections information centre through which the public will be sharing information relating to the May 20th tripartite elections. The first ever centre named Malawi Elections Information Centre (Meic) will run an Election Situation Room (ESR) which comprises a team of experts to analyse information the general public […]
Two Commonwealth officials Clara Cole and Kofi Sawyer, both political affairs officers visited Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) this week to appreciate the local organisation’s preparedness for the forthcoming tripartite lections. The two officials also wanted to have a feeling of the current political situation in the country. “They were on a fact finding mission […]
Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) has asked the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to walk the talk on its call to President Joyce Banda to allow opposition parties have equal access to the public Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) when the official campaign for the May 20 elections starts on March 21. During the filing of nomination papers by […]
In preparation for the May 20 tripartite elections, Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) has embarked on a series of training workshops for Long Term Observers (LTOs). Long term observation refers to the systematic process over a period of time prior to, and after an election to assess different aspects of the electoral process in order […]
Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) has announced that it will conduct Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT), a process that will verify and validate the 2014 elections results. The PVT will focus on the presidential elections results. MESN board chairperson Steve Duwa made the announcement to the Grand Coalition on Tuesday in Lilongwe. “The purpose for this […]
The Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) has asked government to revise its budget after revelations that donor partners have withheld their budgetary support to ensure continuity of operations. Donors under the Common Approach to Budgetary Support (Cabs) on Thursday said they are withholding their assistance estimated at $150 million (about K60 billion) to Malawi for […]
Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) has said outspoken but now muted human rights campaigner Undule Mwakasungula is on “sick leave” and advised the MESN board to replace as its chairman. Steve Duwa was appointed chairperson replacing Mwakasungula. Clarifying on an earlier Nyasa Times report, MESN Network Cordinator, Robert Silungwe confirmed that there has been leadership […]
Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) board on Sunday appointed Emma Kaliya as deputy chairperson of the network. Kaliya is also chairperson of the NGO Gender Coordinating Network. The board also appointed Mac Bain Mkandawire as publicity secretary replacing Steve Duwa who was also recently appointed chairperson replacing Undule Mwakasungula whose whereabouts are not known. Chairperson of MESN […]
The Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) says the pace of voter registration currently underway in five districts in Malawi’s southern region is slow and might discourage would be voters. Malawi will hold tripartite elections on May 20, 2014 and the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) commenced fresh voter registration exercise on July 22 ahead of the country’s first […]
The Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) has applauded the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) for its decision to allow the conduct of Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) in 2014 tripartite elections. The electoral body’s chairperson Justice Maxon Mbendera made the announcement at a highly consultative meeting with political parties and all electoral stakeholders held at Cross Roads […]
Pressure in mounting on Malawi President Joyce Banda to intervene and ensure that the passing of the harmonized electoral law is given priority in the current sitting of parliament, a move that would allow the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and all other stakeholders to push ahead in preparations for 2014 tripartite elections. The pressure from […]
Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI) executive director Rafiq Hajat has caused confusion for forming a parallel electoral civil society organisation that uses the same acronym as the Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn). Hajat is calling his organisation Mtendere Election Support Network (Mesn). According to documents from the new Mesn, the formation has come because the […]
Electoral stakeholders in Malawi are exerting pressure on President Joyce Banda to rescind her decision of appointing vice president Khumbo Kachali as a minister responsible for the independent Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC). President Banda on Thursday appointed Kachali to look after the operations of the national electoral body a move she defends as constitutional. She even […]
Government has defended the appointment of Vice-president Khumbo Kachali to head Malawi’s Electoral Commission (EC), arguing the appointment will ensure smooth preparations for 2014 tripartite elections. The government’s stand comes amid criticism from various commentators including political parties, civil society, analysts, and in the middle of rumors that the Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) […]
Civil rights campaigners in Zimbabwe are making a strong appeal to their Malawi counterparts to assist them address civil rights abuses they are facing in Zimbabwe. Representatives of Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) made the appeal in Malawi’s Capital Lilongwe during the meeting with Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN). Research and Advocacy Programme Manager for […]