Credibility fears cloud Malawi’s September election

With just weeks to go before Malawi’s pivotal 16 September general elections, mounting concerns over political violence, voter apathy and the alleged impartiality of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) are casting a shadow over the credibility of the vote.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Friday warned that Malawi’s electoral environment is deteriorating rapidly, citing attacks on peaceful demonstrators, biased media coverage and the MEC’s refusal to allow independent audits of the voters’ roll.

The political landscape remains volatile. In June, masked men armed with weapons attacked demonstrators calling for electoral reforms, while police reportedly stood by without intervening.

“Civil society groups and opposition parties allege that those behind the political violence have links to a youth militia aligned to the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP), though the party has denied such claims,” HRW said.

Similar incidents occurred in November 2024, prompting accusations of impunity and political bias within law enforcement.

Civil society groups allege links between the attackers and a youth militia aligned with the ruling MCP, though the party denies involvement.

At the heart of the crisis is the MEC whose leadership is widely perceived to be politically aligned with the governing party.

“Civil society groups and opposition parties have raised alarm over the composition of the commission’s secretariat and perceived political affiliations of its leadership,” HRW said.

“This has proved detrimental to the credibility of the MEC as a fair and impartial arbiter.”

The commission’s adoption of Smartmatic technology has raised transparency concerns and its refusal to grant local organisations access to inspect the voters’ roll has further eroded public trust.

The situation evokes memories of Malawi’s 2019 elections, which were annulled by the Constitutional Court due to widespread irregularities – a landmark ruling that positioned Malawi as a regional model for electoral justice.

But observers now fear that the democratic gains made since then are at risk of reversal.

The governing party’s alleged misuse of state resources and dominance of the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) have also drawn criticism.

Media watchdogs have urged MBC to comply with the Communications Act and provide balanced coverage in line with Southern African Development Community’s Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

The elections will determine the presidency, 193 parliamentary seats and local government positions.

Incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the MCP is seeking re-election, facing stiff competition from former presidents Peter Mutharika and Joyce Banda of the Democratic Progressive Party and the People’s Party, respectively.

Other presidential candidates are Dalitso Kabambe of the United Transformation Movement, the country’s current Vice President Michael Usi of the newly formed Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu party and Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front.

Source:APA News