By Burnett Munthali
As the 2025 tripartite elections approach, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has firmly stated its position regarding political parties’ internal candidate selection processes. According to Sangwani Mwafulirwa, the Director of Media and Public Relations at MEC, the Commission will not provide balloting services for party primary elections. Parties must take responsibility for their own internal procedures, and they must ensure that these processes are completed on time, as MEC will not grant extensions to accommodate delays.
The Commission’s role in the 2025 elections will focus exclusively on the broader electoral framework, not on the internal operations of political parties. In a clear statement, Mwafulirwa emphasized that MEC would not engage in party primaries, which are the responsibility of each political party. “Political parties must organize their primaries independently, and MEC will not be involved in any way,” Mwafulirwa asserted.
This announcement serves as a reminder that the election management body is focused on overseeing the public aspect of the electoral process, ensuring fairness and transparency at the national level, but leaving the internal dynamics, including candidate selection, to the political parties themselves.
MEC recently unveiled the comprehensive electoral calendar for the upcoming tripartite elections, highlighting several critical deadlines that political parties and candidates must adhere to:
1) Payment of nomination fees and collection of nomination papers:
The official process for submitting nomination papers will begin in April 2025. Political parties and their candidates are urged to prepare well ahead of this date to ensure they meet all financial and procedural requirements.
2) Submission of nomination papers:
Local Government Elections: Nomination papers must be submitted in May 2025.
Presidential and Parliamentary Elections: Nomination papers for these elections will be due in June 2025.
The Commission made it clear that these deadlines are fixed and non-negotiable. “The nomination periods are set, and MEC will not extend them, regardless of any delays on the part of political parties,” Mwafulirwa emphasized.
MEC’s stance on the nomination deadlines is likely to present challenges for some political parties. Smaller parties or those with fewer resources may struggle to organize their primaries within the stipulated time frames, especially when balancing candidate selection with other logistical issues. However, MEC’s message is unequivocal: parties must be ready by the deadlines.
Political analysts have underscored the need for parties to streamline their internal processes. They advise political organizations to begin preparations for primaries immediately, ensuring they have the necessary infrastructure, resources, and planning in place.
In addition, parties are encouraged to explore alternative methods for conducting primaries, such as digital voting systems, which could help expedite the process and ensure fairness.
While MEC will not play a part in conducting party primaries, it will remain the authoritative body in overseeing the general election process. This includes ensuring that all nominated candidates meet the legal requirements for presidential, parliamentary, and local government races.
The Commission’s primary role will be to manage the nomination and voting processes for these positions, providing the framework and environment in which political parties can present their candidates. However, it will not tolerate delays or requests for extensions to accommodate any party that fails to meet the timeline.
In conclusion, as political parties move toward the 2025 elections, the pressure is on to ensure that their candidate selection processes are completed in a timely and organized manner. MEC’s position is clear: the nomination period will not be extended, and political parties must take full responsibility for preparing their candidates.
The Commission’s decision to refrain from assisting in party primaries sets the tone for a structured and disciplined electoral process. Parties now face the challenge of aligning their internal operations with the timelines set out by MEC, ensuring that all candidates are properly nominated and ready to participate in the general elections. The message is simple: preparation is key, and the deadline is unyielding.
