Mbendera wants electoral clerks to be neutral

Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Justice Maxon Mbendera has urged district electoral clerks to be impartial to earn the trust of stakeholders in the 2014 Tripartite Elections and other polls.

Mbendera made the appeal in Lilongwe on Thursday when he opened a two-day orientation workshop for 43 clerks who have just been recruited on a permanent basis.

“The success of the tripartite elections is in your hands. After elections, people will say the elections were free and fair or not based on the way you will do your job. You should ensure that you are impartial in your work so that we have free and fair elections.

“I know many of you support different political parties, but remember that this is not a political party duty; it is a duty for the Malawian nation,” he said.

Mbendera said MEC belongs to all Malawians; hence, the need for the institution to be independent so that the results of the 2014 elections are credible.