By Burnett Munthali
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has thrown its full support behind the planned peaceful demonstrations organized by the pressure group Citizens for Credible Elections in Malawi.
These demonstrations, scheduled to take place tomorrow, will be held across key cities including Lilongwe, Blantyre, Mzuzu, and Mangochi.
The primary aim of the protests is to demand the immediate resignation of Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Mpesi.
The organizers of the protests have accused both Mtalimanja and Mpesi of bias and gross incompetence in the execution of their duties.
The DPP, through its spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, emphasized the critical importance of transparency and integrity in the country’s electoral processes.
Namalomba urged all Malawians to rally behind the cause and actively participate in the demonstrations to push for free, fair, and credible elections.
Citizens for Credible Elections argue that MEC has failed to uphold public confidence by resisting calls for an independent forensic audit of the Smartmatic software used to manage elections in the country.
They contend that this refusal has further deepened public suspicion and eroded trust in the electoral system ahead of the 2025 general elections.
The protests are expected to send a strong message to authorities that electoral reforms are not only urgent but necessary for sustaining democracy in Malawi.
Both the DPP and Citizens for Credible Elections have reiterated that the demonstrations will be peaceful and conducted within the framework of the law.
As the political climate heats up, all eyes will be on how the government and MEC respond to this growing public pressure for accountability and reform.
