By Our Reporter

Copyright mwnation

Today is Election Day in Malawi, a public holiday, when 7 200 905 registered voters will cast their votes in the seventh post-independence multiparty general election to hire leaders to govern for the next five years.

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) data show that there are 17 presidential candidates, including incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera representing Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and two former presidents, namely Peter Mutharika leading Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Joyce Banda, the People’s Party (PP) torchbearer and sole woman representative.

Besides the trio, others on the ballot are Dalitso Kabambe (UTM Party), Atupele Muluzi (United Democratic Front-UDF), Kamuzu Chibambo of People’s Transformation Party, Frank Mwenifumbo of National Development Party, Vice-President Michael Usi representing Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu, Jordan Sauti of Patriotic Citizens Party, Akwame Bandawe of Anyamata, Atsikana, Azimayi and Kondwani Nankhumwa of People’s Development Party as well as independent candidates Milward Tobias, Adil James Chilungo, Smart Swira, Cosmas Felix Chipojola, Pemphero Mvula and Thokozani Manyika Banda.

In the parliamentary race, there are 1 474 hopefuls vying for 227 of the 229 constituencies. Independent candidates dominate the list at 632 followed by MCP with 219, DPP at 195, UTM Party with 169 and United Democratic Front (UDF) with 70. There are 326 women, an increase from 304 in 2019 and 268 in 2014.

On the other hand, the Local Government Election has 3 041 candidates out of which 1 137 are independents and 535 are women.

MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja is upbeat on the electoral body’s preparedness, and urged registered voters last night to turn up and exercise their right to vote.

During a briefing on the eve of the voting, she said: “Let’s get out in large numbers and vote. Elections are not merely a right, but our responsibility to the nation and future generations.”

Mtalimanja, a judge of the High Court of Malawi, also said vote counting will be done manually at each polling station after closure of voting at 4pm. She said counting will start with presidential election.

She also announced that some candidates in parliamentary and local government elections have been barred for various reasons while in some areas pending court cases have forced MEC not to hold elections. The areas include Linthembwe Ward in Dowa Ngala Constituency, Nkhotakota Liwaladzi Constituency and Dedza Mtakataka Constituency.

The cited areas add to Chirunga Ward in Zomba City North Constituency where Liberation for Economic Freedom candidate Abraham Nyondo died and in Blantyre West Constituency where MCP representative Micheal Isaac Chisala also died.

MCP candidate in Lilongwe Chilobwe Constituency, Lawrence Chaziya (MCP), was declared winner as he was unopposed as did Hilton Masache (MCP) of Nyang’amiro Ward in the same constituency.

But Mtalimanja insisted that despite having no parliamentary or Local Government Elections in some areas, other elections, including presidential will still take place; hence, registered voters should turn out and cast their votes.

OTHER AFFECTED AREAS

l Nsanama Ward, Lilongwe Demera Constituency: the Local Government Election will not take place because there is uncontested winner.

l Msitu Ward, Mchinji South Constituency, the Local Government Election will not take place because of death of a candidate.

l Mikongo Ward, Mangochi North East Constituency: the Local Government Election will not take place because of death of a candidate.

l Luwinga Ward, Mzuzu City North Constituency, the Local Government Election will not take place because of death of a candidate.

l Chirunga Ward, Zomba City North Constituency, the Local Government Election will not take place because of death of a candidate.

Under the amended Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act (2023), only three categories of voters are permitted to apply for authorisation to vote at polling stations where they have been deployed for official duties. The privilege is restricted to polling staff of the commission, including temporary polling and logistics support staff such as drivers; members of State security agencies deployed to polling stations by MEC, and accredited and designated party monitors or candidates.

Malawi held its first post-independence multiparty general election in 1994 following the adoption of plural politics through a June 14 1993 National Referendum that ended 31 years of single-party dictatorship.

In February 2020, the country saw the nullification of the 2019 presidential election over irregularities and a five-judge panel of the High Court of Malawi sitting as the Constitutional Court granted petitioners, namely UTM Party presidential candidate Saulos Chilima and MCP’s Chakwera their wish for a fresh election.