MEC holds two by-elections today
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is today conducting by-elections in Milonde Ward in Mulanje South East Constituency and Malindi Ward in Mangochi North East Constituency.
The voting today follows a heated campaign trail in Milonde Ward where there were violent clashes by alleged Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) supporters, unlike in Malindi Ward where campaign went on smoothly up to its closure on Sunday morning.
The clashes in Malindi Ward prompted the opposition MCP to express its grievances to MEC following tension that arose during the Easter period when youths donning DPP clothes pulled down the opposition party’s flags.
MCP president Lazarus Chakwera is on record as having told journalists over the weekend in Mangochi at the end of a campaign rally that the conduct of the alleged DPP supporters in Mulanje was undemocratic, although DPP secretary general Greselder Jeffrey cast doubts over her party’s involvement in the fracas.
But in a statement signed by MEC chief elections officer Salmy Alfandika at the end of the campaign period over the weekend, MEC hailed contesting candidates and their supporters for observing peace during the campaign period.
“The commission is thanking all the contesting candidates, political parties and their followers for maintaining peace and order during this campaign period. The commission sincerely hopes that this will also continue during the voting and results announcement period,” reads in part the statement.
In Malindi Ward, four candidates, including People’s Party’s (PP) Hassan Chikuta, MCP’s Ambrose Benford Hamisi, United Democratic Front’s Kassim Abiewa Limamu and George Mayamiko Chiwaula, an independent candidate, are in contention for the local government seat. However, the ruling DPP has not fielded any candidate in the Malindi Ward by-election.
However, Milonde Ward has five candidates that include DPP’s Mike Skinner, MCP’s Donata Nyanga and three independent candidates; Mavuto Lackson Michael, Leo Roy Pangani and Cidreck Dickies Somanje.
In her message on the by-elections delivered yesterday, MEC chairperson Jane Ansah said the commission has engaged all the required temporary staff to help run the polls in all the centres, including presiding officers, polling clerks, ushers and security officers.
She also said the commission has also employed assistant presiding officers to help manage the process in polling stations with more than one polling stream.
Said Ansah: “All the staff have received relevant training that will help them perform effectively throughout the polling and results management process. Polling stations will close at 6pm or when the last person to be in the queue by this closing time casts his or her vote.”
Besides, Ansah also assured all participating voters of a secure voting system as there will be presence of security personnel at all the centres.
The by-elections follow deaths last year of office-bearers—John Saidi Macollera from Malindi Ward who died on December 1 and Felix Majawa of Milonde Ward who passed away on December 12.
