By Burnett Munthali
A group calling itself Citizens for Credible Elections has announced plans to hold demonstrations in Blantyre on Thursday.
The aim of the protests is to pressure Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and Chief Elections Officer Andrew Mpesi to resign from their positions.
According to the group’s Southern Region Chairperson, Asabuni Phiri, and Secretary, Aida Mazinga, the demonstrations will start at Chichiri Upper Stadium.
From there, protesters will march along Chipembere Highway to the MEC Southern Region Headquarters in Blantyre.
Speaking at a press briefing held in Blantyre today, the group’s leaders expressed their dissatisfaction with the current leadership of MEC.
They accused Mtalimanja and Mpesi of lacking the capacity to manage the upcoming elections in a credible and transparent manner.
As a specific example, they cited MEC’s recent refusal to allow independent observers to assess the commission’s electoral processes.
The group argued that such resistance raises concerns about the integrity and fairness of the 2025 electoral process.
They believe that the credibility of the elections is at risk if the current leadership remains in place.
In their statement, Citizens for Credible Elections emphasized the need for reforms and accountability within MEC.
To ensure safety during the protests, the group has announced that it will work closely with the police.
In addition to police presence, the group will deploy its own security personnel to prevent any acts of violence.
The organizers have reiterated that the demonstrations will be peaceful and focused on advocating for electoral transparency and leadership change.
The announcement comes amid growing public scrutiny of MEC’s operations ahead of the 2025 general elections.
