By Brenda Kayo:
The Independent Complaints Commission (ICC) says it has received 19 complaints related to Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) staff, politicians and police officers’ failure to arrest people accused of committing election-related offences during the September 16, 2025 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections.
In a report released on Tuesday, ICC states that the complaints are related to political violence, assisting people to vote, buying votes, vote-rigging and holding rallies after the closure of the official campaign period.
The cases include those of violence at Sedi Admarc Hall and Mapanga in Blantyre, where supporters of a council candidate who lost are accused of beating up people.
There is also a case pertaining to a Mec official who allegedly guided an elderly voter to vote for a particular candidate at Chikumba Primary School in Masambanjati area, Thyolo District, a development that is said to have annoyed people and culminated in the eruption of chaos.
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ICC also has a case where supporters of a candidate were allegedly celebrating their candidate’s victory and went to an opponent’s supporter and destroyed property thereat. This happened at Mtalala Community Based Care Centre in Salima District.
The other cases happened at Finish Full Primary School, where candidates were allegedly campaigning around the polling centre.
There are also cases of attempting to vote twice at Mduwa Full Primary School in Mchinji District, Mtelemuka Full Primary School in Mzimba District, Salima Community Hall centre in Salima District, Kamtedza Full Primary School in Dedza District and Nsanje Full Primary School in Nsanje District, among others.
“Since the incidents happened at centres where police were stationed, there was no need for police to wait for formal complaints before affecti[ng] arrest,” the report reads.
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Meanwhile, ICC Chief Legal Officer Nicely Msowoya has said the commission is investigating the complaints against police conduct and other public officials.
“We are still investigating and actually waiting for reports from police on the matter, which would help us to make a determination on what action to take against those accused of [indulging in] illegal activities,” Msowoya said.
Malawi Police Service (MPS) spokesperson Peter Kalaya said police have not been officially informed about specific cases that are being handled by ICC
“As an institution, we have not been shared with the document by the ICC and it is difficult for me to comment on that,” he said.
However, Kalaya said MPS officers have played a critical role in providing security during the September 16 elections.
Kalaya also commended police officers for their “selfless and brave work”, saying they continue to work day and night to ensure that Mec finishes its remaining tasks in a secure environment.
He added that police are working hard to ensure that the post-election period is safe for everyone living in Malawi.
