Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced that it will not use Smartmatic machines in the 2025 elections, opting instead for a manual voting system using paper ballots.
This decision was made to alleviate concerns about the potential for vote rigging and to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
MEC Chairperson Justice Anabel Mtalimanja emphasized that all votes will be counted manually at polling stations, rather than relying on machines.
“I want to assure the public that Smartmatic machines will not be used in the upcoming elections. These machines are not voters; they are only used for data processing. We will vote manually, just like we did in the past,” Mtalimanja stated.
Opposition parties, including the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), have expressed concerns about the use of Smartmatic machines, citing potential biases towards the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP).
The People’s Development Party (PDP) leader, Kondwani Nankhumwa has welcomed MEC’s decision, stating that it would help prevent electoral manipulation.
Sylvester Namiwa’, the Executive Director of Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) urged MEC to ensure transparency in the manual voting process.
William Tembo’s, CCAP Synod of Livingstonia’s General Secretary appealed to MEC to educate the public on the voting process to prevent misinformation.
MEC has assured the public that the manual voting system will be secure and transparent, with measures in place to prevent electoral malpractices.
The commission has also encouraged stakeholders to report any suspicious activities during the electoral process.
