MEC Meets Parliament On Elections

Malawi Electoral Commission MEC has met parliamentary committee on governance assurances and public service reforms.

Speaking chief elections officer for MEC Sam Alufandika said the meeting was organized to brief the committee on the progress made on the preparatory activities for the upcoming May 2019 tripartite elections and the challenges the commission is facing.

Alufandika briefed the committee on voter registration, inspection of the voters register, nomination of candidates, towards polling and results management, Credibility of the electoral process and Funding for elections and anticipated challenges

He said the Commission is in the process of identifying printers for ballot papers and other associated polling materials.

Alufandika said when the vendor has been identified, the Commission shall issue a public notice.

He said the Commission is also working on the result management system saying in 2019 tripartite elections, it shall position the Constituency Returning Officers in their constituencies unlike in 2014 where they were stationed at the council offices.

Alufandika added that a significant new aspect in results management is that the Commission will introduce the use of independent external auditors to verify the results at the constituency tally centres and the national tally centre before any transmission or official announcement is made.

He disclosed that the Commission will hire vehicles from the commercial market if it does not get enough vehicles from government agencies and departments.