By Suleman Chitera
Lilongwe, Malawi – September 16, 2025 — The Civil Society Election Integrity Forum (CSEIF) has expressed satisfaction with the peaceful and orderly conduct of today’s general elections in Malawi, while raising concerns over several operational challenges that require urgent attention.
In a 15:30 election update delivered from Lilongwe, CSEIF Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe reported that security personnel maintained a strong and visible presence across polling centres, with no incidents of violence recorded. He added that observers were granted free access to all polling stations, a development that has helped to enhance transparency and accountability.
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Despite the overall success, CSEIF highlighted key challenges:
Late opening of polling stations in some areas, with delays of up to 30 minutes.
Technical issues with Biometric Voter Verification Identification Devices (BVR Kits).
Missing names on the voters’ roll, which left some registered voters stranded.
In Blantyre’s Ndirande area, an independent candidate’s monitor was accused of bribing voters with K15,000 before fleeing when confronted.
CSEIF urged the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to act swiftly by:
Allowing duly registered voters whose names are missing to cast their ballots.
Fixing biometric device failures at polling centres.
Extending polling hours where delays were experienced.
Conducting a thorough investigation into the alleged voter bribery incident.
Elections Credible Despite Setbacks
The forum stressed that despite these issues, the elections remained credible and peaceful. According to their findings:
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59 percent of polling centres opened on time.
Elderly voters and persons with disabilities were given priority assistance.
Voters, polling staff, and security agencies were commended for their professionalism in maintaining the integrity of the electoral process.
Positive Outlook for Malawi’s Democracy
CSEIF concluded its update by reaffirming that the general elections are progressing in a transparent and accountable manner, urging all stakeholders to remain patient and committed to a peaceful outcome.
