By Burnett Munthali
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and UTM have taken legal action by lodging a formal complaint in court, challenging the Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) decision to reject demands for a special audit of the electoral system.
The two parties are requesting the court to review MEC’s stance, arguing that the audit is crucial to ensuring transparency and public confidence ahead of the September 16 General Elections.
According to a court order issued on the matter, the case has been deemed urgent and must be addressed before the elections take place.
The urgency reflects the sensitive nature of the complaint and the limited time available to resolve issues related to the electoral process.
UTM spokesperson Felix Njawala confirmed the development but declined to give further details, citing the ongoing nature of the case.
The court’s involvement comes at a time when several opposition parties have joined the call for greater accountability from MEC.
Among them are the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Alliance for Democracy (AFORD), who have also urged the electoral body to allow a thorough audit of its system.
The demand centers on the Smartmatic Election Management System, which is expected to handle transmission and tabulation of results during the elections.
Opposition leaders argue that without an independent audit, the system’s credibility remains in doubt, and that this could compromise the legitimacy of the entire electoral process.
The legal challenge by DPP and UTM now adds significant pressure on MEC, as political and public scrutiny over the management of the elections continues to grow.
