Electoral watchdog Chisankho Watch has urged the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to take robust action against voter bribery and ensure impartiality among its officials ahead of the 2025 general elections.
This call follows reports of widespread voter bribery during the third phase of voter registration. According to Chisankho Watch Board Chairperson Rev. Bishop Gilford Matonga, these practices risk undermining the credibility of Malawi’s democratic process.
Speaking to the press on Tuesday morning in Lilongwe, Matonga revealed that their coalition deployed 50 election observers, uncovering instances of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) Members of Parliament allegedly distributing bribes ranging from MWK 5,000 to MWK 10,000 to MEC officials in Nsanje district and making promises of National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) loans at various registration centers in Lilongwe.
“If a MEC official would be receiving money from an MP during registration time, this is very worrisome and we would want to see that MEC acts strongly on its officials. They are not allowed to receive money from any politician at all, and this is very worrisome as far as Chisankho Watch is concerned,” said Matonga.
Chisankho Watch also raised concerns about poor accessibility at registration centers, which they say continues to marginalize persons with disabilities.
Many centers reportedly lack infrastructure and trained personnel to assist disabled voters, raising fears of similar challenges on election day.
“If polling stations are not made accessible, persons with disabilities will struggle to exercise their voting rights,” Matonga cautioned.
Despite stakeholder involvement, turnout during the third phase of registration remained low. Voters faced multiple challenges, including being turned away for arriving late on the final registration day, malfunctioning equipment, and poor synchronization between MEC and National Registration Bureau (NRB) systems.
Heavy rains also disrupted registration activities in certain areas.
Chisankho Watch further flagged misinformation and disinformation as significant barriers to voter participation, calling on political parties to cease spreading misleading information, emphasizing that transparency and accountability are essential for restoring public confidence in the electoral process.
“Political parties must stop spreading misinformation. Transparency and accountability are key to restoring public confidence,” Matonga emphasized.
To safeguard the integrity of the electoral process, Chisankho Watch has recommended enhancing accessibility at polling stations to ensure persons with disabilities can participate in the elections without hindrance.
The watchdog also called for improved coordination between MEC and NRB to prevent technical issues, alongside efforts to counter misinformation with accurate and timely communication.
These measures, according to Chisankho Watch, are essential to fostering trust and encouraging greater voter participation in the upcoming elections.
