By Suleman Chitera
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced that it will conduct parliamentary re-elections in four constituencies as part of efforts to conclude the 2025 electoral process.
Speaking at the National Tally Centre at the Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe on Monday evening, MEC Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja said the re-runs are necessary due to a range of challenges that disrupted or invalidated results in some areas.
Constituencies Set for Re-Elections
- Blantyre West Constituency
Elections were suspended following the death of Michael Isaac Chisala, a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate. - Nkhotakota Liwaladzi Constituency
The electoral process was halted after Daniel Binda petitioned the courts to review MEC’s decision to reject his nomination papers over underpayment of nomination fees. - Dedza Mtakataka Constituency
A similar issue arose after Dr. Charles Sandramu challenged MEC’s rejection of his papers, also citing underpayment of fees. The case led to a judicial review. - Lilongwe Mtandire-Mtsiriza Constituency
Although voting took place, MEC has nullified the results due to irregular handling of invalid votes. According to MEC, ballots deemed invalid were improperly opened at the district council level, which goes against established electoral procedures.
MEC’s Position on Electoral Integrity
Justice Mtalimanja emphasized that the Commission is committed to ensuring that all electoral processes are conducted fairly and transparently.
“All invalid votes must be processed through the proper procedure. In this case, they were opened at the district council, which violates our rules. As a result, the Commission has resolved to conduct a fresh election in the constituency,” she said.
Why the Re-Elections Matter
The re-elections are expected to restore public confidence in the Malawi electoral process by addressing legal disputes, candidate eligibility issues, and procedural irregularities. With Malawi’s democracy under scrutiny, these fresh polls will play a crucial role in finalizing the country’s parliamentary representation ahead of the new administration.
