We won’t be pushed—Mec

Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) chairperson, Chifundo Kachale, Monday reiterated that the commission will not allow to be pushed by anyone to announce the results of today’s fresh presidential election as long as it is within the legally-sanctioned period of eight days.

Kachale was providing an update on the state of preparedness regarding the court-sanctioned election, from the main tally centre at College of Medicine in Blantyre.

He said Mec will do everything within the law to ensure the election is free, fair and credible so that issues which were identified in last year’s poll do not arise in this fresh poll.

Kachale, who was flanked by commissioners Steve Duwa and Olivia Liwewe, also disclosed that the government had not yet disbursed the K10 billion which the commission had requested to pay for some urgent activities.

“I am repeating what I have said before that this is a public event and the money was budgeted for by Parliament. The Executive has to release the money because we need it. This election is funded by taxpayers’ money and either way, the government will have to release the money. We have to pay for the services rendered,” Kachale said.

The Mec chairperson also disclosed that distribution of all polling staff and materials had been done despite that there were some delays in certain areas where the exercises were done late due to the coming late of Malawi Defence Soldiers who were supposed to accompany the materials.

He said: “The commission is updating Malawians that it is ready to hold the fresh presidential election and it has looked into all issues that may arise. The commission has distributed all the necessary materials in the North, Central and Southern regions.”

Kachale also disclosed that in some areas in the Central Region, some presiding officers withdrew their services but he went further to state that other officers who were on standby have since been engaged.