OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE REITERATED THEIR CALLS FOR THE RESIGNATION OF MALAWI ELECTORAL COMMISSION (MEC) CHAIRPERSON JUSTICE ANNABEL MTALIMANJA, CITING CONCERNS OVER HER “COMPROMISED STATUS.“

The renewed demands were made in a letter addressed to Mtalimanja and signed by the General Secretaries of the United Democratic Front (UDF), UTM Party, Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) and the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).

The opposition groups accuse Mtalimanja of incompetence and allege her connection to the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) raises questions about her impartiality.

They specifically highlight that Mtalimanja is, allegedly, the daughter of the late MCP president, John Tembo, which they argue creates a conflict of interest.

In the letter, the opposition parties also call for the resignation of MEC’s Chief Executive Officer and the termination of the contract with SMARTMATIC, the company hired to oversee the electoral process.

“Failure to unconditionally meet these demands, after 13th November 2024 will call for unspecified actions including but not limited to unending vigils at MEC’s head and regional offices until all demands are met and in sheer pursuit of justice and fairness,” reads the letter in part.