By Mercy Matonga:
The Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has not come clear on the progress it is making on relocating its head office to Blantyre following an Executive Order of last October.
In an order dated October 10 2025, President Peter Mutharika directed Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra), Mec and Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) headquarters to return to Blantyre and Malawi Prisons Service (MPS) headquarters to return to Zomba.
The institutions were directed to do so within three months.
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We followed up on the progress this far, as ordered.
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Mec’s Director of Communication Sangwani Mwafulirwa said currently there is no information on the progress made in relation to the order.
“I don’t have any information from the commission to communicate regarding that matter. When the commission advises on any information it will be shared with the public,” Mwafulirwa said.
On the other hand, Macra acting Director General Mayamiko Nkoloma said the Authority has made “tremendous progress” on the matter.
He said at the time of breaking for the festive holidays, 60 percent of the staff of the institution had already relocated to Blantyre.
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“Phase 1 started on 1st December 2025 and was completed on 12th December 2025. This phase involved the relocation of all senior and middle management.
“Operationally Macra is now in Blantyre since the whole executive management and middle management are now in Blantyre,” Nkoloma said.
He added that the second phase involves the rest of the staff (officers and support staff).
This phase started on December 15 and will be completed by January 2, 2026.
It is expected that by January 5, 2026 Macra would have fully relocated back to Blantyre.
“The relocation benefits include savings on rentals as Macra is occupying its own offices in Blantyre unlike in Lilongwe where we are renting almost five office buildings.
“Staff will be housed in one place ensuring easy management and supervision,” Nkoloma added.
Public Relations Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development Stanley Nkhondoyachepa said the MHC has also already relocated.
“I can confirm that we complied with the directive and MHC offices have relocated to Blantyre,” Nkhondoyachepa said.
In another response, MPS spokesperson Steve Meke said the relocation exercise is progressing well with all key stakeholders involved in every step of the way.
“Given the current state of affairs, MPS will meet the stipulated time frame unless the unforeseeable happens in the course of the exercise but so far we are fixing our eyes on the deadline,” Meke said.
Mec moved its head offices from Blantyre to Lilongwe in June 2023 while MPS relocated its headquarters from Zomba in January 2024 followed by Macra in March 2024 alongside MHC.
