Voter apathy in Malawi by-elections

Malawi’s Parliamentary and Local Government By-elections faced low voter turn-out although about 68,000 people had registered to vote in the Tuesday’s (December 22nd) polls.

Low turn out at Havala and St Pauls centers in Zomba Chisi, reports Mec stringer Beaton Makina
Low turn out at Havala and St Pauls centers in Zomba Chisi, reports Mec stringer Beaton Makina

Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) held by-elections in Zomba Chisi Constituency, Ngala Ward in Lilongwe Msozi North Constituency, and Mtope Ward in Mchinji West Constituency.

But since the polling started at 6am in morning, handful voters turned out to cast their votes at most polling stations, Mec stringers disclosed.

Mec Stringer in Lilongwe, Deborah Manda revealed that as of 9:30 this morning, about 48 voters had casted their votes at Kachitsa school in Ngala ward, Lilongwe while Chadza school which has two streams-A has 1169 registered voters and B has 1168; only 100 had voted.

In Ngala ward in Lilongwe 15330 people registered to vote in 9 polling centres.

Zomba Chisi Constituency also experienced low turnout in most polling centers as people were seen still working in their gardens, reported Mec Stringer, Beaton Makina.

The situation was even evident in Mtope ward in Mchinji where about 106 voted at Kathyuka polling centre and 119 at Chioko polling centre, and out of 1,181 registered voters, only 52 had so far voted a Chivawa in Mchinji as of 12 noon.

Mec Media and Public Relations Manager, Sangwani Mwafulirwa attributed said they expected the situation to improve in the afternoon as people were in their gardens during the morning time.

“While some centres had warm turnout others had less people trickling in the morning. This is not
uncommon with by-elections more especially considering that this is farming season,” explained Mwafulirwa.
Some voters would want to go to their gardens first and come for polling in the afternoon”.

Mwafulirwa could not admit on fears that the by-elections might have experienced voter apathy as witnessed by the number of people turning out to cast their votes.

He said: “When the polls close today, that is when we can have a clearer picture of voter turnout”.

Mec is expected to announce the determination on the results for the by-elections on Wednesday afternoon at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel.

In Zomba, Mec held Parliamentary by-election following the death of legislator, Chidzaro
Peter Mangulenje who was, until his death, deputy secretary general for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

In Lilongwe Ngala Ward elections were held after its councillor resigned while in Mchinji Mtope Ward it is due to the death of the councilor.

Only the ruling DPP, the main opposition, Malawi Congress Party (MCP), the Peoples Party (PP) and
independent candidates contested in the by-elections. The United Democratic Front (UDF) did not field any candidate.

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mankhaulee mlaamu baabaa
mankhaulee mlaamu baabaa
8 years ago

pipo were buzy mminda mwawo hence voter apathy. Besides DPP wl rtn its candidate..

Green Kunyenga
Green Kunyenga
8 years ago

The problem is that people’s votes do not count. Kubera too much.So even if you vote the victors will be those who have not won.So why voting

Rodriguas
Rodriguas
8 years ago

Kodi koma UDF ilipo? Che Atupele ndiyenso aitu. Zoona not even a single candidate. Mbola bwanji. Aaah! Apa ndiye zaleadership ndimayazitu. Kachipani kaja amwera madzi ku DPP.
Blind loyalty can/will never develop Malawi. Archaic.
Upsyi! [email protected].

Rodriguas
Rodriguas
8 years ago

Kodi koma UDF ilipo? Che Atupele ndiyenso aitu. Zoona not even a single candidate. Mbola bwanji. Aaah! Apa ndiye zaleadership ndimayazitu. Kachipani kaja amwera madzi ku DPP.
Blind loyalty can/will never develop Malawi. Archaic.

ben phiri
ben phiri
8 years ago

poti adazolowera kuba DPP

ngongoliwa
ngongoliwa
8 years ago

Pipo hsv lost interest in our GAY president.
They c no reasons to vote for.

Mwakipiki
Mwakipiki
8 years ago

The UDF is slowly but surely dying. Lucius take over before it’s too late

Fathi Aldhehaab
8 years ago

Mwazionatu, pipo cant trust voting results, zat goes with cheating in favour of dovalled ruling thiefs.
Mwsonatu ndiye u saying itd normal, I would say abnormal cos this whrre governance stsrts..

Viyazi Tembo
Viyazi Tembo
8 years ago

Even poor of the poorest are now realising that its waste of time to vote for some1 who shall not care about their problems once in power….

levelheaded
8 years ago

Dpp will win in all the constituencies. Chala mmwamba.

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