By Mercy Matonga:
Civil society organisations (CSOs) that focus on election issues have differed on calls for the resignation of chairperson for the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) Judge Annabel Mtalimanja.
According to a statement released by Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (CSEIF) Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe, actions taken by groups such as Citizens for Credible Elections (CfCE) are seem to be efforts to destabilise the electoral process.
“If concerns over the use of electronic devices were genuine, it would be inconsistent for any political party, including the DPP [Democratic Progressive Party], to retain commissioners who participated in those decisions. We, as electoral stakeholders, must promote informed participation and uphold the independence and credibility of Mec,” the statement reads.
The statement also says the decision to use electronic management devices (EDMs) is not the sole responsibility of the Mec chairperson but a collective decision by the commission in accordance with Section 11(3) and (5) of the Electoral Commission Act.
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Kondowe further said while CSEIF has, in the past, demanded accountability from Mec based on verified facts and shall continue to do so in the future, stakeholders had to be careful on politicised calls that lack legal and factual merit.
“Electoral integrity demands vigilance, balanced critique and constructive engagement—not actions that erode public confidence. We are aware that Citizens for Credible Elections plan to hold demonstrations in Lilongwe.
“While we respect the right to peaceful assembly, we urge all actors to base their actions on fact and law, and to prioritise the collective goal of free, fair and credible elections,” the statement reads.
Responding to the statement, CfCE leader Sylvester Namiwa said Malawi was a democratic country and that every one had a right to express their opinions.
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“We sustain our democracy through the ballot, where the will of the people is expressed and any person or individual has a right to join and form an organisation and you don’t need to be accredited to raise your concerns,” Namiwa said.
“All we want is to audit the election management system. Simple,” Namiwa said.
Both CSEIF and CfCE are not accredited by Mec to conduct civic and voter education for the 2025 general elections.
