By Burnett Munthali
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced a supplementary voter registration exercise to address gaps identified during the initial phases of voter registration for the upcoming 2025 General Elections. The decision follows a meeting held on December 16, 2024, and a directive from the High Court in October 2024.
MEC reviewed the conduct of the voter registration exercise across all three phases and resolved to conduct the supplementary exercise under the following conditions:
1) Phase 1 Councils
Registration will run for five days, targeting only eligible voters who registered or would have registered with the National Registration Bureau (NRB) starting from October 21, 2024, when the voter registration commenced.
2). Phase 2 and 3 Councils
The exercise will target eligible voters who presented themselves at voter registration centers and applied for civil registration with the NRB but did not receive their unique National ID numbers before the close of registration, making them unable to register as voters.
NRB staff will assist with identification and verification but will not conduct fresh civil registrations.
Phase 1 includes districts like Chitipa, Karonga, Mzuzu City, Dedza, and others.
Phase 2 covers areas such as Nkhata Bay, Zomba City, Blantyre, and Thyolo.
Phase 3 features major areas like Mzimba, Lilongwe City, Mangochi, and Nsanje.
The High Court ruling on October 25, 2024, in the case of George Chipwaila and Others v. MEC and Attorney General, compelled MEC to ensure civil registration services were accessible at voter registration centers. The supplementary exercise is a response to this ruling, ensuring no eligible voter is disenfranchised due to registration issues.
MEC has assured the public that specific dates and modalities for the supplementary voter registration exercise will be announced soon.
This move demonstrates MEC’s commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and inclusive electoral process. The supplementary exercise aims to address the gaps and challenges experienced during the initial registration phases, particularly for those affected by delays in civil registration services.
As Malawi inches closer to the 2025 General Elections, the success of this supplementary registration process will be critical in ensuring that every eligible voter has the opportunity to participate in shaping the country’s future leadership.
