* The Commission will also not entertain issues posted on Facebook or from media briefings but to be submitted in writing through email ceo@mec.org.mw or hand delivered
* It will also not entertain vague complaints, unsubstantiated allegations, and hearsay but to be detailed and clear
* As Peter Mutharika leads in partial declaration of results for presidential election in 3 councils of Likoma District, Luchenza Municipality and Mwanza District
By Duncan Mlanjira
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has reiterated that it will only handle complaints that directly relate to the general administration of the election and not on processes relating to tallying of results.
Advertisement
The emphasis was made by MEC chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja in her update regarding the tallying and results management of the general election that took place on Tuesday September 16.
There have been several grievances aired by political parties and candidates about the tallying made through social media as well as through press briefings — thus MEC maintaining its stance that those who have valid issue that need to be addressed should be formally submitted.
“Commission will not be picking issues from Facebook posts or media interviews,” Justice Mtalimanja said. “If it’s an issue that occurred at a tally centre, the representatives at the tally centre should lodge a complaint with the returning officer.
“We also have a facility at the national tally centre which the representatives at the National Tally Centre can use to submit complaints,” she said, while directing complaints that processes relating to tallying of results should be lodged at the respective tally centre.
She also stressed that MEC “will not entertain vague complaints, unsubstantiated allegations, and hearsay” and that complaints to be submitted should be detailed and clear while providing a redress they are seeking from MEC.
She reiterated the advised she had made before that all complaints should be submitted in writing to the Chief Elections Officer through email ceo@mec.org.mw or hand delivered to the MEC head office at Chisankho House in Lilongwe.
“Complaints should not be submitted through WhatsApp texts or voice notes to various MEC staff will not be entertained.
In accordance with section 65(h)of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Act, Justice Mtalimanja said MEC provided complaints logbooks for polling stations and as required under section 92(1) of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Act, complaints lodged at a polling station must be resolved by the presiding officer.
“If not resolved, the Commission is required to take decisions on all matters that have not been satisfactorily resolved,” she said, while indicating that MEC has retrieved and reviewed complaints logbooks provided to all councils and has observed that all complaints were resolved at those polling stations.
“There was no referral,” she said. “The Commission, therefore, considered all the complaints at that level to have been adequately resolved.
Justice Mtalimanja assured the public that they will continue sitting to ensure that it declares the final election results within the eight days provided by the law for releasing presidential election results.
She also announced partial declaration of results for presidential election that indicates that Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) president, Peter Mutharika leads in three councils of Likoma District, Luchenza Municipality and Mwanza District while the incumbent, Lazarus Chakwera lead in Kasungu Municipality.
Likoma had a total of 8,664 registered voters, a total of 6,937 voters turned up for voting, representing 80% while 143 were void votes, representing 2% — there were 6,794 total valid votes from which Mutharika earned 4,177; Chakwera 1,817; Joyce Banda 87; Dalitso Kabambe 485; Atupele Muluzi 110, Michael Usi 37; Kondwani Nankhumwa 4.
Kasungu Municipality had a total of 25,645 registered voters, a total of 18,614 voters turned up, representing 73% while 373 were void votes (2%) — there were 18,241 total valid votes with Chakwera earning 8,818; Mutharika 7,831; Joyce Banda 98; Dalitso Kabambe 1,019; Atupele Muluzi 229; Michael Usi 75; Kondwani Nankhumwa (5).
From a total of 10,237 registered voters in Luchenza Municipality, 8,455 turned up (83%), 127 were void votes (2%) — thus 8,328 being valid votes with Mutharika earning 7,547; Chakwera (336); Joyce Banda (18); Dalitso Kabambe (232); Atupele Muluzi (81); Michael Usi (32); Kondwani Nankhumwa (20).
Mwanza had 51,045 registered voters but 38,011 turned (74), 1,210 were void (3%) — thus 36,801 being valid votes from which Mutharika earned 30,576; Chakwera (2,228); Joyce Banda (463); Atupele Muluzi (533); Michael Usi (95); Kondwani Nankhumwa (10).
As at 18h00 yesterday, out of the 229 constituencies, 219 had captured and transmitted their results in the Results Management System and as per requirement of the law, a copy of the constituency summary for each election was pasted at a prominent place at the Constituency Tally Centre.
Justice Mtalimanja encouraged the public that they can go and check “but they should not remove it [as] it is meant to hang there for everyone to see” and warned that “no one should be tempted to deface or alter the results”.
“A total of 217 constituency results had been processed at the district tally centres where the returning officers have to compile the district summaries for the presidential election.”
She added that retrieval of results from councils to the national tally centre as of 18h00, a total of 9 councils had managed to bring their results to the National Tally Centre out of 36 councils — which are Phalombe, Ntchisi, Karonga, Chitipa, Karonga Town, Nkhata Bay, Balaka, Mwanza, Thyolo, Zomba City, Zomba District, Luchenza Municipality, Likoma, Ntcheu and Salima.
Advertisement
She profoundly applauded the national for upholding peace, unity, and democratic values during these elections, saying: “Your commitment to nonviolence, respect for differing views, and orderly participation in the electoral process is a testament to the strength and maturity of our democracy.
“As the nation awaits the announcement of the election results, the Commission earnestly appeals to all citizens to remain calm, respectful, and peaceful during this crucial time.
“Elections are a cornerstone of our democracy, and while outcomes may bring joy to some and disappointment to others, it is essential that we express our reactions with dignity and restraint.
“Let us honor the democratic process by rejecting violence, provocation, or any form of unrest. True strength lies in unity and respect for the will of the people. Together, let us safeguard the peace we have upheld so far and continue building a future rooted in harmony, tolerance, and mutual respect.”
Meanwhile, the Malawi Human Rights Commissioner (MHRC) Andrew Kavala has commended MEC for its effective management of the electoral process, noting that vote casting and counting are conducted in a calm and orderly manner.
At a press briefing yesterday held at Sunbird Capital Hotel in Lilongwe, where he provided a preliminary report on the procedures for the 2025 General Election, Kavala recognided MEC’s initiatives in ensuring that the elections were executed smoothly without significant disruptions or violence.
Commissioner Andrew Kavala
He stressed that MHRC deployed observers to monitor the electoral process in 27 districts across the country, safeguarding the rights of citizens: “This recommendation emphasises the effective management of the electoral process, which is essential for maintaining democratic principles and ensuring citizens’ rights are honored during elections,” he said.
In a separate interview, Director of the National Initiative for Education (NICE) Trust, Gray Kalindekafe emphasised the necessity of inclusivity and accessibility in the electoral process, reinforcing the dedication to democratic engagement by enabling more individuals to vote without facing major obstacles.
Emphasing on the usage of Smartmatic election system, he said it has actively promoted the principles of transparency and accountability within the electoral process.
He explained that this initiative underscored the MEC’s commitment to upholding democratic values and ensuring that the integrity of elections is preserved, saying: “The actions taken by the MEC to ensure a smooth electoral experience reflect positively on the integrity of Malawi’s electoral system.
“Procedures are open to scrutiny and that those responsible for managing these systems are held accountable for their actions,” he said.—Reporting on MHRC by Santos Zefania, Malawi News Agency (MANA)
Advertisement