By Deogratias Mmana:
It is now official that the September 16 2025 elections will have 229 constituencies, up from 193 in 2019.
This follows the Malawi Government Gazette Extraordinary, which was published on March 1 2024 and shows that next year’s elections will have 229 constituency tally centres for receiving and tabulating results from polling centres, 36 district tally centres, 509 wards up from 462 in 2019, 6,344 registration centres and one national tally centre.
“Take notice that pursuant to its powers under Section 76(1)(2)(a) and (b) of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi (the Constitution) and Section 8(1)(a)(b) and (c) of the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) Act, as amended, the Commission determined the number of constituencies and wards and reviewed and demarcated constituency and ward boundaries for the purpose of 2025 General Election.
“In accordance with Section 76(5)(b) of the Constitution, the constituency boundaries were confirmed by the National Assembly on 18th November 2022,” the notice reads.
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Mec spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa said the total number of polling stations for the general election will be known at the conclusion of the voter registration exercise and building of new voter register.
“The commission will also communicate [on] the final number. Take note that the polling stations will be located in the registration centres released now, or any amendment that may follow,” Mwafulirwa said.
Meanwhile, Centre for Democracy and Elections Technical Specialist Aloisious Nthenda has said there is a need for massive awareness for would-be voters to be aware of new structures and new laws concerning the elections.
“Citizens, especially voters, need to know where they will register, vote and boundaries of constituencies and wards including their names. Political parties must also know these structures very well,” Nthenda said.
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When Mec Chairperson Chifundo Kachale appeared before the Commissions, Statutory Authorities and Enterprise Committee of Parliament last year, he said the elections would cost Malawi about $187 million (K220 billion).
He also said the procurement of some election materials would depend on the availability of forex.
