39 percent fail to register in Phase 2 Voter Registration

Preliminary figures of Malawi Electoral Commission indicate that 39 out of every 100 eligible voters failed to register in the second phase of voter registration

In a public notice chief elections officer Andrew Mpesi says 2 million 422 thousand 595 people were registered representing 61 percent missing a 3 million 963 thousand, 148 set target

Mpesi says among the registered voters 1, 079,523 are male while 1, 343, 072 are females representing 45 percent and 55 percent

He says adding that 57 percent of the projected male population and 65 percent of females have registered

However, the commission has cautioned Malawians on the use of the figures because they are preliminary therefore may change if duplicate registrations are discovered

Meanwhile, Malawi Electoral Commission MEC has commenced the phase voter registration phase in seven districts.

Speaking at Tsokankanasi Primary School at area 43 in Lilongwe, where she also registered in the voters roll, MEC chairperson, Justice Anabel Mtalimanja, says they expect that people will come out in large numbers to register to vote in all the registration centers which will be open from 8 to 4 pm.

Mtalimanja says National Registration Bureau has committed to register new registrants in all the centres.

On concerns raised in previous two phases in regards to the Electoral Management Device, Mtalimanja has assured the public that the machine is not for voting or rigging election