By Vincent Gunde
Opposition political parties AFORD, DPP, UDF, PP and UTM have urged the Malawi Electoral commission (Mec) and the National Registration Bureau (NRB) to address their demands and concerns without delay to ensure that the 2025 General Elections are inclusive, transparent and credible.
The opposition parties said they stand ready to collaborate in reinforcing voter confidence, but they will hold Mec-NRB accountable for any actions that undermine the principles of transparency, inclusive and credible.
They have reminded Mec that their demands brought to their attention through Press Briefings and Letters still stand: manual transmission of results, engagement of independent ICT auditors to edit registration and polling data.
Writing in a joint statement, the opposition parties have expressed their deepest concerns that the Mec has continued to deliberately disregarded input from opposition political parties during interface meetings.
The opposition parties have claimed that consultation or interface meetings have become rubberstamping sessions observing that Mec has continued to divert from commitments made during interface meetings.
The parties say they have wondered why they have the interface meetings in the first place if Mec has already made up their mind to implement measures that are not acceptable by all, saying Mec risks making the election unacceptable.
The opposition political parties have called on Mec to take actions to ensure that if eligible voters are not disenfranchised in the 2025 General Elections demanding integrate fresh civil registration and adhering to Legal of Directives and best practice.
“Malawians are demanding equal application of the law, integrate fresh civil registration, transparency, among others” reads the statement in part.
The opposition political parties have finally called on all Malawians, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and international observers to join Malawians in advocating for a fair and transparent voter registration process.
