Some politicians still express skepticism about MEC’s technological electoral management devices despite exhaustive explanations of its efficiency

MEC chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja was on national broadcaster MBC explaining the effectiveness of the EMDs

* Several experts of repute have constantly defended MEC over the EMDs, but some of the delegates — even after MEC meticulously explained the devices’ reliability and transparency — were skeptical

* The transition from bulky biometric voter registration kits (BVRKs) to more efficient hand-held EMDs was informed by comparative learning visits to South Africa and Zambia

* And consultations particularly with the same political parties, who had been taken along on the learning visits to South Africa and Zambia

By Duncan Mlanjira

Despite exhaustive explanations of technological efficiency and security of the electoral electronic management devices (EMDs), some delegates at the 6th All-Inclusive Stakeholders Conference convened by the quasi-religious group, Public Affairs Committee (PAC), still expressed skepticism about the system, casting doubts over its reliability and transparency.

Before the conference, several expert stakeholders of repute have constantly defended Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) over the EMDs, but some of the delegates — even after MEC meticulously explained the devices’ reliability and transparency — were skeptical.

MEC’s Chief Elections Officer, had outlined the Commission’s transition from bulky biometric voter registration kits (BVRKs) to more efficient hand-held EMDs, emphasising that migration “was informed by comparative learning visits to South Africa and Zambia and consultations” — particularly with the same political parties, who had been taken along on the learning visits.

In its report, PAC indicates that MEC stressed that “the EMDs are designed to support voter registration, verification, candidate nomination and results management [while clarifying] that voting will remain manual through ballot papers”.

MEC reported that a total of 6,500 EMDs and related software were procured from Smartmatic of the Netherlands following a transparent, PPDA-approved restricted tendering process, with oversight from the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).

PAC reports that in plenary, “one of the dominant themes throughout the session was the need to deal with public mistrust in MEC with several participants emphasising the urgent need for the Commission to adopt a more proactive and strategic approach in addressing misinformation and disinformation, which were seen as significant contributors to the erosion of public confidence”.

“To counter this, it was suggested that MEC strengthen its strategic communication efforts, including the use of infographics, videos, and social media platforms to better engage and educate the electorate.

“Others called for a return to manual transmission of results, referencing past commitments that had favored this method. There were also some delegates that questioned what they perceived as a reversal of earlier positions and emphasized the need for consistency in communication and policy.

“At the same time, there were also other delegates that expressed continued support for electronic transmission, reflecting the diversity of views across the political spectrum.

In August last year, MEC expressed confidence in EMDs during an engagement meeting with development partners, civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media on electoral processes.

MEC chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja assured that the EMDs are reliable and all the data will be secure because one of the issues that raise concern is that surrounding security.

She assured Malawians that “the devices are secure and the system is secure”, and that the equipment would be used anywhere in the country — including in the remotest areas regardless of power challenges.

She stressed that devices are accompanied with the power banks for areas where there is no electricity, adding that the equipment was introduced to ensure that every eligible voter with national ID card or proof of National Registration Bureau (NRB) is able to register and take part in the voting.

At that meeting in Lilongwe, MEC engaged various representatives from CSOs, including Women Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC), Oxfam Malawi, Cise Malawi as well as Media Council of Malawi and Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Malawi Chapter.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (MANA), WOLREC Executive Director, Maggie Kathewera hailed MEC for introducing the EMDs, saying: “We are living in a technologically advanced world and the adoption of EMDs is something that has to be commended.”

Meanwhile, in its presentation of the ‘State of Preparedness on General Elections 2025’, PAC indicates that MEC Chief Elections Officer “delivered a comprehensive report outlining the progress — covered key institutional, operational, legal, technological and logistical aspects of election management.

PAC gives a vote of confidence that MEC has demonstrated its commitment “to delivering transparent, credible, free and fair elections” and reaffirmed its constitutional mandate and independence — as enshrined in Section 75 of the Malawi Constitution.

“The current composition of the Commission, chaired by Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, reflects compliance with legal provisions, and the Commission emphasised its collective decision-making processes as stipulated by law.

“A major component of the presentation highlighted the Commission’s progress on critical electoral activities within the electoral cycle. Notably, MEC successfully conducted a boundary delimitation exercise, resulting in the establishment of 229 constituencies and 509 wards — with the final report adopted by the National Assembly in November 2022.

“The legal framework governing the 2025 elections has been realigned and harmonised, following a comprehensive electoral law reform process. The Commission has developed and operationalised updated codes of conduct and electoral regulations to enhance compliance and transparency.”

Regarding voter registration, PAC takes note of MEC’s report that the exercise was conducted in three phases from October to December 2024, followed by a supplementary registration period in January–February 2025 to accommodate eligible registrants facing challenges with NRB.

“In total, 7,203,390 valid voters were registered — representing 65.7% of the projected voting-age population. The Commission also addressed issues such as duplicate records, voter transfers, and minor discrepancies, all of which were resolved in accordance with legal provisions.”

MEC further presented its operational and financial readiness — that the implementation of the Election Operational Plan is on track, supported by predictable government funding and complementary resources from the Malawi Electoral Support Program (MESP), managed by UNDP.

Procurement of non-sensitive materials is complete, while procurement of sensitive items such as ballot papers and indelible ink is ongoing.

“The Commission emphasised the robustness of its election dispute resolution (EDR) framework and the establishment of an Integrated Command Centre and a National Tally Centre at the Bingu International Convention Centre in Lilongwe.

MEC also addressed concerns raised by stakeholders during the conference that included the appointment of the Chief Elections Officer (currently under judicial review), the use of national ID cards for voter registration, and data management from the Pilot Voter Registration (PVR).

“The Commission reiterated that data from the PVR was excluded from the official voter register and that EMDs used in the PVR were retired before the actual registration exercise.

“On the issue of system audits, MEC indicated its willingness to accommodate scoped, structured ICT audits, provided these do not compromise system security or intellectual property.

“In conclusion, MEC assured stakeholders that all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the smooth delivery of the 2025 General Elections — that all major activities under the Election Operational Plan are progressing on schedule, and the Commission reaffirmed its dedication to maintaining transparency, stakeholder engagement, and institutional independence throughout the electoral process.”

PAC reports that the the session dedicated to stakeholder reflections provided “a candid and multifaceted discussion on the state of electoral preparedness, trust in the with questions also emerging about the level of involvement of MEC Commissioners in the results management process.

“Some participants queried whether all Commissioners have equal access to and oversight over critical stages of the process. This was linked to broader concerns about transparency, inclusivity, and internal checks and balances.

“Delegates also scrutinised the hybrid model of results transmission and urged MEC to ensure that consultations with political parties are not only informative but also genuinely participatory.

“In response to these issues, MEC affirmed that all registered political parties would be consulted on matters related to results transmission. However, the Commission clarified that it retains the final authority in making electoral management decisions, and it directed stakeholders to the Operational Plan — particularly the section outlining the demonstration of the results management system — as a reference point for further clarity.”

PAC reports that concerns were raised regarding issues such as duplicate registrations, data security from pilot registrations, and the adequacy of technical support — and in response, MEC explained that all pilot data is clearly labelled and separated, with the respective devices isolated from those intended for use on election day.

“The Commission also reassured stakeholders that due diligence was observed throughout the procurement process.”

On low voter registration rates — reportedly at 65.7% of eligible voters — “drew widespread concern. Procedural uncertainties were also raised.

“Delegates questioned the 4pm closing time for polling stations, warning that voters still in line at that hour risked being disenfranchised. Confusion was noted regarding the official start date of vote counting, with discrepancies identified in the calendar of events.

“Additional inquiries were made about the relocation of the National Tally Centre to Lilongwe, the status of the voters’ roll, and the availability of nomination fee accounts.

“A recurring call during the session was for political parties to play a more active and responsible role in monitoring electoral processes. Participants urged parties to fulfil their oversight responsibilities and emphasised that constructive engagement is key to strengthening electoral integrity.”

In its responses, MEC acknowledged past challenges in communication and the ongoing problem of misinformation and reiterated its commitment to transparency and stressed that all activities are guided by the Operational Plan, with deviations arising only due to evolving operational needs.

Regarding the relocation of the Tally Centre, MEC justified that the decision was based solely on logistical considerations, noting that Lilongwe’s central location offered practical advantages.

MEC also assured stakeholders that all Commissioners are actively involved in all decision making processes “as one body corporate and reaffirmed its commitment to credibility, collaboration and transparency”.

“Political parties were encouraged to deploy monitors at key electoral stages and to seek clarifications directly from MEC rather than relying on unofficial sources that may contribute to confusion.

PAC contends that MEC’s session “underscored the critical need for trust, transparency and continuous engagement between MEC and all electoral stakeholders. While MEC reaffirmed its commitment to credible and peaceful elections, stakeholders emphasised that this commitment must be demonstrated through tangible actions, inclusive dialogue, and consistent communication.

“The feedback from this session is expected to inform the next steps in the election preparation process, and guide future engagements between MEC and its stakeholders.