Mec commissioners’ term expiring
Term of office for commissioners of the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) ends on May 18 prompting electoral stakeholders to ask government to appoint commissioners if 2019 elections are to run smoothly.
Mec Chairperson, Maxon Mbendera, made the appeal on Monday during the Bridge Access and Contestants Modules training in Blantyre. According to Mbendera, whose term ends on October 10, 2016, delays in the appointment of commissioners put the team under unnecessary pressure as they do not have enough time when coordinating the electoral processes.
In July last year, the National Task Force on Electoral Reforms recommended reforms in the selection of the commissioners. The proposed reforms included a non-partisan gender balanced expert commission.
When asked on whether the reforms will be incorporated during the next selection of commissioners, chairperson of the task force, Steve Duwa, said the reforms were being reviewed by the Law Commission.
“I would suggest that when appointing the new commissioners, let us look at the current recommendations,” said Duwa.
He, however, disclosed that during their presentation of the suggested reforms to the Law Commission, there was a general agreement that there was no law stopping the President from taking the reforms into consideration when appointing the team.
Meanwhile, ward demarcation process which was expected to start in February is being delayed because a consultant is yet to be identified. The Commonwealth Secretariat which pledged to provide the consultant for the job is yet to find a suitable person as the first shortlisted applicants did not meet their requirements.
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