The Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) handling of the 2025 elections has raised serious concerns among opposition parties and the general public. The opposition parties, namely Aford, DPP, UDF, and UTM, have written to the MEC Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, expressing their discontent with the electoral process and demanding immediate action to address the issues.
The parties have listed seven demands, including the resignation of Justice Mtalimanja and the MEC CEO, termination of the contract with SMARTMATIC, and assurance of a manual voting process. These demands are rooted in the concerns of the Malawian people, who are losing trust in the MEC and the electoral process.
The MEC’s arrogance and lack of transparency have led to suspicions of bias and compromised status. The opposition parties have given the MEC an ultimatum to address these issues by November 13, 2024, failing which they will take unspecified actions, including vigils at MEC offices.
The MEC must take these demands seriously and respond constructively to ensure the credibility, freedom, and fairness of the 2025 elections. The Malawian people deserve a transparent and trustworthy electoral process, and it is the MEC’s responsibility to deliver that.
Will the MEC meet the opposition’s demands and restore trust in the electoral process, or will the situation escalate further? Only time will tell. One thing is certain, however – the Malawian people will be watching closely, and their voices will not be silenced
