By Vincent Gunde
Concerned Citizens have filed a notice to hold demonstrations in the City of Mzuzu on the 27th May, 2025 calling for the resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja for her insistence on using Electoral Management Devises (EMD) Smartmatic machines in the 16th September, 2025 elections.
The Concerned Citizens have argued that Smartmatic international is allegedly embroiled in a web of global scandals, including allegations of bribery, electoral manipulation, and lawsuits across multiple countries.
They say their mistrust of Smartmatic machines is based on their proven inefficiency and vulnerability to manipulation in other countries saying these issues are raising a critical question that how did the Company secure such a crucial role in Malawi.
In the letter, the Concerned Citizens say on the 27th May, 2025 they will assemble at Katoto secondary school, marching on M1 road to Shoprite Roundabout, continue to the Clock Tower Roundabout, and arrive at the District Commissioner’s offices to deliver a petition.
A Malawi Congress Party (MCP) diehard of Mvera in Dowa district Mr. Rodgers Kamphangala, has asked the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja to allow independent auditors access to Smartmatic machines.
Kamphangala said in 2019, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) accepted independent auditors to audit the voters’ register why is it that the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) do not want this to happen in the interest of all?
He has joined Malawian and religious bodies concerns that Mec is not independent and is not ready to handle the 16th September, 2025 elections in the spirit of transparency and credibility warning Justice Mtalimanja to love Malawi, love herself and family.
The MCP diehard said it is now clear that the MCP is sending a message of bloodshed to Malawians on the 16th September, 2025 elections saying this has been evidenced with the party’s senior members and President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera’s himself quiet without summoning MCP youth operatives to stop terrorizing innocent Malawians in the country.
He has appealed to the Chewas in the central region to stand with Malawians by saying no to Smartmatic machines, Malawi has enjoyed peace since 1964 and MCP of President Chakwera should not should not destroy this peace to serve their own interests rather those of the citizens and the country.
