By Deogratias Mmana:
Next year’s elections are said to be under threat as some stakeholders are allegedly engaged in activities which have the potential to force other electoral stakeholders not to accept the results, the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Public Trust has warned.
This is happening at a time Malawians are preparing for the September 16 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
The trust claims that some stakeholders are indulging in practices that may lead to prosecution and disenfranchise voters.
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For example, Nice raises concern over practices such as unlawful snatching of voter registration certificates during recent voter registration exercises.
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It warns that the development could lead to the erosion of democratic integrity, disenfranchisement of voters and criminal consequences.
Nice has since appealed to Malawians to protect their voter registration certificates from any person who may come to them to exchange the certificates with money or any other promise.
“In the weeks following the completion of the voter registration exercise conducted in the three phases, we have witnessed disturbing incidents where individuals are selling their voter certificates for goods such as soya pieces, soap and sugar, while others are forcibly taking these essential documents from registrants,” Nice says in a statement signed by its executive director Grey Kalindekafe.
“We unequivocally condemn these practices as they undermine the very foundation of our democracy and threaten the integrity of the upcoming 2025 elections,” the statement, which is dated December 20 2024, reads.
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Kalindekafe said engaging in such activities violated several laws, including Section 24(1) of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, which mandates that a voter registration certificate must be issued only to eligible individuals.
Nice Trust also says the conduct undermines Section 77 of the Republican Constitution, which guarantees every citizen the right to vote.
“Selling or snatching voter certificates directly contravenes this constitutional right,” the statement says.
Nice has described such activities as theft, robbery and fraud under Malawi Penal Code sections 283, 284 and 326, respectively.
“These offences carry severe penalties. Theft can result in imprisonment for up to seven years. Robbery may lead to imprisonment for up to 14 years and fraudulent activities can incur fines or imprisonment for up to five years,” the statement said.
Nice says the buying and selling of voter certificates compromise the legitimacy of election outcomes, leading to a scenario where elected officials may not accurately represent the will of the people.
Kalindekafe says vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected by such actions, resulting in significant under representation in the electoral process and further marginalising already disadvantaged groups.
“The integrity of the 2025 elections is jeopardised when a considerable number of voters cannot participate due to these malpractices.
“This could lead to an election outcome that fails to reflect the true preferences and voice of the electorate,” Kalindekafe says.
He says to safeguard electoral integrity and ensure a fair democratic process, stakeholders such as government bodies, political parties, civil society organisations and citizens should take immediate action by raising more public awareness on the need to protect voter certificates.
Two weeks ago, a consortium of organisations under Chisankho Watch released a report which also exposed electoral malpractices.
The consortium released another report last week in which its chairperson Gilford Matonga indicated that cash handouts and voter bribery topped the list of 29 incidents recorded during the third phase of voter registration.
Other bodies have indicated that there has been registration of under-age voters, accusing the National Registration Bureau (NRB) of facilitating the process.
However, NRB Principal Secretary Mphatso Sambo dismissed the reports.
Chisankho Watch reports implicated some Malawi Congress Party officials in the malpractices but the party’s publicity secretary Jessie Kabwila trashed the reports, challenging the consortium to bring evidence to the relevant authorities.
“They should provide evidence to support their claims. Despite numerous allegations against us, none have been substantiated with concrete evidence.
“The Malawi Congress Party has been actively campaigning to raise awareness about voter registration and our efforts have been rigorous and thorough,” Kabwila said.
