By Isaac Salima:
The journey towards next month’s general elections is nearing its final stages as the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has announced that ballot papers will arrive in the country today.
Mec’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, said the first delivery, carrying parliamentary ballots, is expected today at 11.30am.
“Subsequent consignments will arrive on September 4, 5 and 6 and will include ballot papers for presidential and local government elections,” Mwafulirwa said.
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He added that ballot papers, together with results sheets and other essential materials, were printed in Dubai by Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing LLC, a company with prior experience supplying Malawi’s elections, having handled the 2019 tripartite elections and the 2020 fresh presidential election.
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“The firm was selected through standard procurement processes to guarantee both quality and timely supply of these highly sensitive materials.
“The arrival of ballot papers is one of the most delicate stages in election preparations and we pledge to manage it with the highest level of openness,” Mwafulirwa said.
He further said that representatives of political parties and independent presidential candidates, along with accredited stakeholders, will once again be allowed to witness the process.
“Political parties and independent presidential candidates are each required to send two representatives.
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“In addition, accredited observers and members of the media are also welcome. Beyond these groups, no other persons will be permitted at the airport. We do not want people to show up uninvited,” he said.
Mwafulirwa reiterated that the security of the ballots remains a top priority.
He said once delivered, the consignments will be stored in a secure warehouse at the airport that will be under police and Malawi Defence Force guard.
The papers are expected to remain there under “heavy security” until the official distribution to the constituencies begins.
“The commission’s guiding principle is straightforward: transparency and accountability are central to everything we do. We want to ensure that there is no room for doubt or suspicion.
“That is why parties, observers and the media are involved in every stage, from printing and shipping to storage and eventual distribution,” Mwafulirwa said.
The country goes to the polls on September 16 to elect ward councillors, parliamentarians and the president.
