By Burnett Munthali
Honourable Kamplepo Kalua has voiced serious concerns regarding the Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) handling of the new Smartmatic voting system, just months before the September 16, 2025 elections.
Speaking on the matter, Kalua lamented MEC’s refusal to permit independent ICT experts to examine the software embedded in the recently procured Smartmatic machines.
He emphasized his commitment to the principle of free, fair, and credible elections, and questioned MEC’s reluctance to allow transparency in such a pivotal process.
According to Kalua, the core of the controversy lies in the software itself — which, he argues, may be designed or configured in a way that favors one political party over others.
This, he believes, is why MEC is resisting any calls for external inspection of the system.
To seek clarity, Kalua and his team reached out directly to the original manufacturers of the Smartmatic machine.
In their response, the company disclosed important technical details, including the serial number and date of manufacture.
This information, Kalua said, only deepens suspicions about the potential for electoral malpractice.
He pointed to the experience of other nations, including Venezuela, Mozambique, and Philadelphia, where similar technologies have been used with controversial results.
Kalua cited key provisions of Malawi’s Constitution to support his arguments, starting with Section 4, which establishes that all power belongs to the people.
He then drew attention to Section 6, which demands that public functions be conducted with integrity, accountability, and for the benefit of all citizens.
He questioned the legal basis on which MEC Chairperson Annabelle Mtalimanja and Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi are refusing citizens access to inspect equipment purchased with public funds.
Kalua reminded the public that the Smartmatic machines were introduced to facilitate voter registration, verification, and vote transmission — not to obscure electoral processes.
He stressed that the right to vote is enshrined in Section 12(1) of the Constitution and must be upheld for every citizen.
By denying access and operating in secrecy, Kalua said, the MEC leadership is violating Section 5 of the Constitution, which invalidates any act contrary to its principles.
He strongly implied that these actions indicate a deliberate plan to manipulate the upcoming elections.
Kalua warned that such conduct threatens national unity and risks plunging the country into political unrest and social disorder.
He urged Malawians to reject any form of electoral deception and stand firm for peace and constitutional order.
Citing Section 34, Kalua defended citizens’ rights to free expression and peaceful assembly and cautioned the police against intimidating those who speak out.
He also referenced Section 37, which grants the right to access public information — a right that he argued should extend to the Smartmatic machine and its software.
Kalua declared that both Mtalimanja and Mpesi must be held accountable for violating these constitutional guarantees.
He went further to argue that even judges or police officers who act in a way that undermines the Constitution, especially concerning elections, should be held legally responsible.
He concluded by invoking Section 36, which ensures the right to legal remedy, and stressed that Malawians must resist the use of any controversial system that compromises the electoral process.
Kalua cited the example of Michigan in the United States, where authorities reversed a similar digital system and returned to manual voting due to public pressure.
He assured Malawians of his unwavering commitment to safeguarding democracy and ensuring that the elections scheduled for September 16, 2025, are conducted with transparency, credibility, and fairness.
