PAC conference delegates aspire for credible and violence-free elections

* Let electoral stakeholders discharge their responsibilities to the beloved Malawi. Let us take it a priority to be good Malawians

* As MEC assures delegates of credible elections amidst delegates’ fears of electoral maladministration

By Evance Chisiano, MANA

Delegates at the two-day Public Affairs Committee (PAC) 6th All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference in Blantyre concluded the indaba with hopes for free, credible, peaceful and well-resourced elections — placing their trust in the Malawi Electoral Commission, Malawi Police Service, Ministry of Finance and the Reserve Bank of Malawi to fulfill their duties and meet Malawians’ expectations for a smooth electoral process.

The 6th edition of the indaba, titled; ‘All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference on Potential Triggers of Electoral Disputes: 2025 General Elections’, was held at Sunbird Mount Soche Hotel from Tuesday to Wednesday, May 20-21 — under the theme; ‘Securing Consensus on Transparent and Accountable Electoral Governance through Dialogue’.

PAC chairperson, Monsignor Dr. Patrick Thawale expressed hope that those entrusted with roles and responsibilities of ensuring free, fair, credible and non-violent electoral process will do the needful per the expectations of the conference delegates — who raised a number of issues ranging from political intolerance, alleged selective arrests by the Malawi Police to demonstrations that are characterised by rooting, theft, plus social media circulated misinformation and disinformation.

“Let electoral stakeholders discharge their responsibilities to the beloved Malawi. Let us take it a priority to be good Malawians,” he said at the end of the conference — whose delegates included MEC officials led by its chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja; political parties’ representatives; development partners such as UNDP; civil society organisations (CSOs); traditional leaders; the clergy; Malawi Police Service and other law enforcement agencies.

Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM) Governor, Dr. McDonald Mafuta Mwale; Minister of Finance & Economic Affairs, Simplex Chithyola Banda and Minister of Information & Digitilisation, Moses Kunkuyu also attended the conference where concerns over forex and fuel scarcity during elections were raised on top of concerns over broadcasters failing to do their rightful roles.

On the first day of the conference, Justice Mtalimanja assured delegates of credible elections amidst delegates’ fears of electoral maladministration while RBM Governor Mafuta Mwale and Minister of Finance Chithyola Banda, assured the delegates and Malawians of availability of forex and fuel supply for smooth electoral process.

On the second day, the Malawi Police Service took to the floor to explain its mandate in public order management, and its plans to deploy adequate personnel in areas of higher level of political violence ahead of the polls and further deployment of personnel in all polling centers across Malawi to ensure security on the polling day, September 16.

Inspector General (IG), Merlyne Yolamu dismissed all doubts of selective justice in handling perpetrators of political violence, stating that the Malawi Police will continue to carry out its duties professionally and without political influence from the ruling party.

“We serve government of the day and by government of the day, l mean that Malawi Police serves all Malawians,” she said. “Government is all about citizens of Malawi and in this case Malawi Police will continue to provide security to every Malawian.”

She added with assurance that police will continue investigating all suspects of political violence in Lilongwe, Dowa, Machinga and other parts of Malawi — and thus called on political parties to carry out issue-based campaign other than exploiting young people to cause violence.

She further appealed to CSOs to desist from organising demonstrations that are characterised with theft and vandalism of property, saying: “We will meet CSOs very soon to discuss issues and to give you room so that you should voice your concerns.”

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) publicity ecretary, Dr. Jessie Kabwila hailed PAC’s 6th Stakeholders Conference, saying it was pleasing to note that delegates want Malawi to have violence free electoral process on top of fairness and credibility.

“Malawians have spoken,” she said. “All we need is free, fair and credible elections. Malawians don’t want fighting.”

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) director of women affairs, Mary Navicha, however, called on the Malawi Police Service to provide adequate security to women politicians as the country heads to elections in September, saying police should consider all concerns raised by conference delegates — citing the law enforcer’s alleged failure to provide necessary security in time of peaceful demonstration.—Pictures at the conference by Evance Chisiano, MANA

* Weather update