LILONGWE, Malawi – International and regional observers have called for transparency in the management of Malawi’s election results, as pressure mounts on the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) from opposition parties and civil society organisations.
More than seven million Malawians voted on Tuesday to elect a president, members of parliament and local councillors for the next five years. But the MEC has yet to release official partial results, drawing criticism from key stakeholders who insist the outcome be made public without delay.
Lucia Annuziata, chief observer of the European Union Observation Mission, said transparency was crucial to maintaining confidence in the process.
“The voting process has been conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner. It’s therefore important that result management be done openly to avoid suspicions towards the whole process,” she told journalists in Lilongwe on Thursday.
Themba Nhlanganiso, head of the Southern African Development Community Election Observation Mission (SEOM), echoed the call, stressing that openness would reassure all parties.
“Transparent management of the results will bring confidence to all election stakeholders,” he said, while urging Malawians to “continue promoting peace, tolerance and calm” as the count continues.
Civil society organisations have also weighed in. A statement by the Citizens and Defenders of Malawi Democracy demanded “full transparency from MEC, including a detailed explanation of the delays and protection of all election-related data and materials to prevent tampering, loss or destruction.”
“We remind MEC and all involved stakeholders that the people of Malawi entrusted them with the sacred duty to protect the democratic process. Any attempts to subvert the will of the people will not go undetected,” the statement warned.
The main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) also voiced concern. Its elections director, Ben Phiri, said the delays risked stoking public anger.
“People are anxious to know the true outcome of the votes they cast; therefore there is need for openness and transparency in the management of results,” he said.
Seventeen candidates are contesting the presidency, including incumbent Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and his main challenger, former president Arthur Peter Mutharika of the DPP. Analysts have described the polls as the most consequential since the return of multiparty politics in 1993, amid mounting frustration over economic stagnation and corruption scandals.
Unofficial tallies published by private media outlets suggest Mutharika is ahead. Under Malawi’s Constitution, official presidential results must be announced within seven days of voting.
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