By Burnett Munthali
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) has issued a strong and urgent appeal to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to ensure full transparency, accountability, and credibility in the upcoming 2025 General Elections.
The CSOs, underlining their commitment to safeguarding Malawi’s democracy, emphasized that their intervention was not political but a patriotic obligation to protect the country’s democratic ideals.
As the nation moves towards the pivotal elections set for September 16, 2025, concerns have been mounting over the integrity of the electoral process.
The organizations expressed deep unease about emerging challenges, notably those surrounding the voter verification exercise currently underway.
They highlighted that Malawi today stands at a decisive moment in its democratic journey.
The dream of a democratic Malawi, achieved through immense sacrifice and perseverance, now demands that MEC acts decisively to guarantee elections that are transparent, fair, and credible.
Recent reports of irregularities in the voter verification process have sounded alarm bells nationwide.
Issues such as missing names, misplaced verification centers, and unexplained omissions have triggered confusion and growing disenchantment among voters.
These concerns, the CSOs stressed, are not isolated or anecdotal but rather represent a national crisis requiring immediate and comprehensive action.
The organizations specifically noted that the inconsistencies in the voter lists were largely linked to the introduction of Smartmatic systems.
They criticized MEC’s decision to propose the use of Smartmatic for the 2025 polls, arguing that Malawians overwhelmingly reject its deployment.
They cited global controversies surrounding Smartmatic’s involvement in elections elsewhere as grounds for serious doubt regarding its trustworthiness.
Concerns raised include risks to electoral transparency, neutrality, technological security, and the general erosion of public confidence.
The CSOs delivered a clear message: the people of Malawi deserve better.
Every single vote cast must be respected, safeguarded, and counted without manipulation or compromise.
Accordingly, the coalition issued a list of key demands to the Malawi Electoral Commission.
First, they called for the immediate rectification of the voter verification exercise.
They urged MEC to engage independent auditors to conduct a thorough and urgent audit of the voters’ roll, with all findings to be disclosed publicly.
Additionally, they proposed that MEC offer an extended and well-targeted voter verification opportunity for those whose names or details were missing or incorrect.
Secondly, they demanded the complete rejection of Smartmatic’s involvement in Malawi’s elections.
They insisted that only electoral technologies that are secure, verifiable, independently auditable, and widely trusted should be used.
Third, the organizations called for robust independent oversight and auditing mechanisms before, during, and after the elections.
They advocated for the engagement of both local and international auditing bodies to monitor MEC’s operations and systems closely.
Fourth, they pressed for full and meaningful inclusion of all electoral stakeholders.
They demanded that political parties, civil society groups, religious bodies, media representatives, youth organizations, and traditional leaders be granted unrestricted access to every stage of the electoral process.
Fifth, the CSOs emphasized the need for enhanced public communication and engagement strategies.
They urged MEC to roll out aggressive voter education campaigns across all languages, regions, and media platforms to combat misinformation and restore public trust.
Sixth, the organizations stressed the importance of reinforcing MEC’s institutional independence while also ensuring its full accountability to Malawians and the Constitution.
The CSOs reminded the Chairperson and Commissioners that they are the custodians of Malawi’s democratic legacy.
They pointed out that the electoral process is not merely an administrative task but a vital exercise that determines the country’s future direction.
The coalition assured MEC of their willingness to offer full support if the Commission committed itself to upholding transparency, truth, and justice.
However, they also warned that they would vigorously oppose any actions that undermined constitutional democracy.
In an emphatic closing statement, the CSOs issued a seven-day ultimatum for MEC to respond to their concerns.
Should MEC fail to act within the stipulated timeframe, the organizations made it clear they would return to the citizens to determine the next course of action.
They expressed hope that the 2025 General Elections would be remembered not for controversy or confusion but for renewal, national unity, and a resounding affirmation of democracy.
The coalition concluded by stating that when democracy thrives, Malawi shines brightly for the world to see.
The joint statement was signed by various organizations and individuals including Cde. Edwards Kambanje, Evangelist Steve Chimwaza, Joseph Peshi, Prof. Kinka Makoloni, Jonathan Phiri, Kingsley Mpaso, Godfrey Maloya, Abdul Rasheed Dyman Kachemwe, Chrissy Ziba, Patricia C. Banda, Pastor Victor Nyanyaliwa, and Mirrium Mzembe.
Copies of the communication were sent to the Malawi Human Rights Commission, political parties, diplomatic missions, the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Homeland Security, the United Nations, the African Union, the SADC Electoral Advisory Council, the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Public Affairs Committee, and all media houses.
The spokesperson for the coalition, Joseph Peshi, provided contact details for further correspondence, signaling the seriousness with which the group intends to pursue this matter.
