By Suleman Chitera
Machinga, Malawi — In a dramatic twist just weeks before the highly anticipated September 16 general elections, an aspiring independent candidate for Machinga Likwenu Constituency has been disqualified — not by a rival or court challenge, but for a reason as basic as it gets: he is not a registered voter.
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has confirmed the disqualification of Enock Malinda, who showed up to submit his nomination papers only for election officials to discover he had not registered during the official voter registration period — a fundamental requirement for anyone contesting as Member of Parliament or Ward Councillor.
“It is shocking that someone seeking public office wouldn’t meet the most basic criteria,” said Machinga District Elections Officer Horace Chapweteka, urging all aspirants to familiarize themselves with MEC guidelines before throwing their hats in the ring. “Avoid wasting your time and money on a race you legally can’t run.”
Brian Chanasi, Constituency Retaining Officer for Machinga Likwenu, echoed the concerns. “The verification process has been smooth across the board — except for this unfortunate case,” he said.
MEC insists that it conducts strict preliminary checks on all nomination papers, and being a registered voter is non-negotiable.
Meanwhile, the political heat in Machinga remains high. A total of 72 parliamentary candidates and 120 ward councillor hopefuls have been cleared to contest across the district’s eight constituencies and 16 wards. With over 253,000 registered voters, the stage is set — but not for Malinda.
As the clock ticks toward election day, MEC’s message is clear: “Know the rules or risk being benched before kickoff.”
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