Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) commissioners and other officials have been all over the country, sensitising stakeholders to issues related to new electoral laws. From the look of things, the sensitisation campaign is going on well. But, as SAMUEL KALIMIRA writes, not all is well as people with visual impairment have cried foul, accusing the electoral body of favouring those with sight in its campaign.
The Republican Constitution prohibits any form of discrimination, a development that has given people with visual impairment and others faith in local systems.
However, according to Malawi Union for the Blind (Mub) Executive Director Ezekiel Kumwenda, discrimination still takes place, one way or the other.
He cites electoral processes—specifically public sensitisation—as one area where discrimination looms large.
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Kumwenda points at the ongoing sensitisation meetings on new electoral laws as a typical example of what it means to be sidelined.
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Apparently, Mec commissioners are on a campaign to sensitise stakeholders—including town, district, municipal and city council chief executive officers, district commissioners, Malawi Police Service personnel, among others— to issues related to the September 16 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections, especially in the context of new laws.
“The Malawi Electoral Commission is following oral processes when disseminating information on new electoral laws, thereby sidelining us. Since the new electoral laws were passed in Parliament, the majority of people with visual impairment have had no access to messages in braille format, thereby restricting many of them from reading anything pertaining to the new laws.
“A few of our members get some information through news media but, then, such information is not detailed enough for people with visual impairment to make informed decisions,” Kumwenda said.
The Mub chief added that they are afraid that they may also be sidelined when voter registration starts later this year.
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“It is unfortunate that as Mec starts the voters’ registration exercise in September this year, a significant number of our members will remain uninformed about the new laws, which may lead to voter apathy.
“We, as a union, have heard about the new laws but, now, the problem is that many people out there are not aware of the new laws. We wish Mec could reach out to us as soon as possible so that when eligible voters are registering this coming September, they should be fully aware of the new laws,” Kumwenda said.
On his part, Mec Director of Media and Public Relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa said Mec is committed to inclusive elections that are targeting everyone, adding that that is why they have started activities that are targeting stakeholders at all councils.
Mwafulirwa said Mec will not solely rely on braille messages as not all visually impaired individuals read braille.
“So, apart from braille messages, we will combine activities with human visits. Mec will employ constituency civic and voter education assistants for all constituencies in the country.
“Their job is to conduct voter education and they will be based in councils. One of their jobs is to visit marginalised groups where they meet or even in their homes and teach them about elections,” Mwafulirwa said.
Among other things, the new electoral laws stipulate that voting will be starting at 6pm and close at 4pm.
The other notable thing is that voting day has been designated as a public holiday.
Additionally, only individuals with national identity cards will be allowed to vote.
