By Burnett Munthali
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, has delivered a comprehensive update on the state of voter registration and electoral preparedness ahead of the highly anticipated 2025 general elections.
She began by revealing that there are 7.2 million eligible voters across the country, a figure that represents 65.7% of the projected number of Malawians expected to vote in the next polls.
This percentage reflects an encouraging level of civic engagement and shows that the majority of eligible citizens are actively participating in shaping the democratic destiny of the country.
Turning to the subject of voter transfers, Justice Mtalimanja disclosed that over 60,000 registered voters had formally requested to be transferred from one voting center to another.
Of these, 19 transfer applications were initially rejected due to administrative or technical complications that required deeper scrutiny.
However, after further review and intervention by MEC, 15 of these transfer requests were later approved and successfully processed.
She went on to explain that 4 of the applications could not be honored due to what she termed “serious concerns,” though she did not elaborate on the nature of these concerns.
This, she emphasized, was a demonstration of MEC’s commitment to transparency, legal compliance, and ensuring the integrity of the voters’ roll.
On the matter of data verification, Mtalimanja proudly noted that 6,000 registration centers across the country had reported a zero variance in their records.
This accuracy, she stressed, amounted to 99.3%, an almost flawless performance that she attributed to the diligence of MEC staff and the integrity of the registration process.
Despite this positive development, she expressed disappointment over the lack of participation from political party representatives during the voter transfer process.
She lamented that most political parties, though duly notified, failed to send their monitors to witness and verify the transfers.
This absence, she said, was not only regrettable but also undermined the transparency that MEC strives to uphold during every stage of the electoral process.
Looking ahead, Justice Mtalimanja announced that the voter verification exercise will run from May to July, and will be implemented in three phases.
This phased approach is intended to ensure broad coverage and to allow every registered voter ample opportunity to confirm their details on the voters’ roll.
She explained that those with mobile phones will be able to verify their registration details online through a dedicated MEC platform.
However, voters without mobile access will be required to physically visit their respective registration centers to confirm their names and registration particulars.
In conclusion, MEC is urging all political stakeholders, candidates, and citizens to refrain from making public statements that could undermine the commission’s integrity or erode public confidence in the electoral process.
Justice Mtalimanja emphasized that the Commission remains committed to conducting free, fair, transparent, and credible elections that reflect the true will of the people.
She called for unity, constructive dialogue, and responsible engagement from all players in Malawi’s democratic process, reminding the nation that credible elections are a collective responsibility.
