EC for credible 2014 polls, registration starts July

Malawi’s Electoral Commission (MEC) says the 2014 tripartite elections will be credible if stakeholders exhaust all avenues in ensuring that civic and voter education messages reach out to all eligible voters across the country.

EC chairperson Justice Maxon Mbendera said this at Sunbird Nkopola in Mangochi on Monday when he opened a week-long training for commissioners and staff on Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (Bridge) on voter registration.

He said assessment of the credibility of the 2014 polls will start with how the EC will conduct voter registration.

Said Mbendera: “Since we will be having Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections, we are emphasising the need for people to register in their wards when voter registration starts from July to November this year.”

He added that with the re-demarcation of the wards and creation of new centres, the commission will put in place measures to ensure that every eligible voter is registered.

“The commission is in the final stages of coming up with a civic and voter education strategy for 2014,” said Mbendera.