The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is under mounting pressure just months before the 2025 elections, as political stakeholders demand full transparency and an independent audit of its digital election systems.
MEC Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja has defended the Commission’s stance, citing security concerns but critics say trust in the process is eroding fast.
Speaking at the National Elections Consultative Forum (NECOF) in Lilongwe on Wednesday this week, Mtalimanja reaffirmed MEC’s commitment to fair elections. But her remarks, while firm, did little to calm fears rooted in the fallout of the 2019 vote, which was annulled by the courts due to widespread irregularities.
“The credibility of our electoral process is a shared responsibility and so too is the integrity of the national conversation around it,” Mtalimanja said.
Central to the current tension is the Commission’s refusal to authorize a wide-ranging audit of the Election Management System (EMS) the digital infrastructure behind voter registration and results management.
MEC has allowed limited technical demonstrations for political party experts but rejected broader audits, citing the risks of exposing system vulnerabilities.
“The Commission has reservations about an audit with no defined scope. It presents legitimate security concerns,” MEC’s report stated.
Stakeholders, however, are pointing to a 2019 audit by BDO that exposed weaknesses in the tallying system. MEC insists that only clearly scoped audit proposals will be considered, a position many say is inadequate in today’s digital age.
MEC reported that 7.2 million voters are registered just 65.7% of the estimated eligible population. That leaves over 3.7 million potential voters unaccounted for.
While the Commission highlighted improved inclusion 137,925 voters identified as having disabilities other statistics raised concerns. Only 60,761 voters transferred their details, and 2,563 records were lost due to “data variances” across 43 registration centers.
In Machinga, one voter was denied a transfer after being flagged for double registration—an offense MEC described as criminal under electoral law. The incident highlights the balance MEC must strike between preventing fraud and ensuring voter access.
A potential presidential run-off could cost K97.9 billion, according to MEC yet this figure is not accounted for in the current national budget. The Treasury has reportedly promised to release funds “when needed,” but observers fear such ambiguity could lead to delays or manipulation.
Further controversy has emerged over the awarding of the ballot paper printing contract to Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing, a UAE-based firm previously linked to procurement scandals in Kenya. Though MEC claims all procedures were followed, civil society groups are demanding greater transparency.
The official campaign period will run from July 14 to September 14. For the first time, the use of public resources vehicles, offices, or services owned by government or parastatals is explicitly banned.
Violators could be disqualified, with the law giving MEC the power to penalize non-compliant candidates or institutions.
“The Act grants the Commission the power to impose penalties or disqualify individuals, parties, or institutions that do not abide by the prescribed campaign regulations,” MEC stated.
Despite efforts such as SMS alerts and social media campaigns, MEC admits civic education is struggling. Most civil society organizations accredited for Civic and Voter Education (CVE) have gone silent, citing lack of funding.
Low literacy levels in rural areas and rampant misinformation online make the situation worse. MEC has appealed to development partners for urgent support but with time running out, the impact may be limited.
Observer missions from the African Union, COMESA, the EU, and the SADC Electoral Forum have been invited, with MEC promising full access to polling stations and tally centers. But as the 2019 elections showed, observer presence alone cannot restore public trust.
Under Justice Mtalimanja, MEC has introduced new safeguards and shown a more professional face than in past cycles. But its refusal to allow a full ICT audit, voter registration gaps, and opaque procurement processes are casting long shadows.
