Africa-Press – Malawi. Let’s be honest: elections are too important to be turned into political theatre. What’s happening now—this push to undermine the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC)—is not only reckless, it’s a dangerous recipe for chaos.
By villager Anthiny John Mukumbwa
I say this not as an outsider, but as someone who has been deeply involved in the inner workings of MEC. And here’s the first truth you need to hear: MEC is not a one-woman or one-man show.
MEC is a Collective Body – That’s the Law
There are seven decision-makers at MEC: six commissioners and one Chairperson. Not even the Chair, alone or with the CEO, can make decisions without the rest. That would be illegal. Every decision—from procurement to process—is debated, voted on, and agreed upon collectively.
So, when political parties like MCP and DPP—who each have three commissioners sitting at MEC—start attacking the same commission, you’ve got to ask: are they attacking themselves? Because if they truly believed MEC was broken, why did they renew the contracts of these very commissioners?
You can’t say someone is incompetent while re-signing their contract with the other hand. That’s hypocrisy, plain and simple.
Don’t Like MEC? Then Use the Law, Not the Streets
Calls for the Chairperson and CEO to resign are not just misplaced—they’re pointless. Malawi’s electoral laws clearly state how a Chair or CEO can be removed, and spoiler alert: it’s not by shouting in the streets or waving placards.
Remember Jane Ansah? People protested for months, but the law had the final say. If you have genuine grievances, take them to court. That’s how democracy works. That’s how the rule of law survives.
Smartmatic and the System: Let’s Get Real
This fuss about Smartmatic? It’s a distraction. The procurement of Smartmatic was consultative, involving all commissioners and key stakeholders. No one smuggled it in through the back door.
Even more important: votes will be counted and results announced right there at polling centres. Everyone—political parties, observers, the media—will get signed copies of the results. It doesn’t matter whether MEC uses a spaceship or a donkey to send results to the tally centre—because everyone already has the original copies.
So what’s the panic? If anything goes wrong, everyone will know immediately. The results will be flying on social media long before MEC speaks.
Stop Undermining Confidence—It’s Irresponsible
Here’s the heart of the matter: by constantly attacking MEC, you’re not helping voters—you’re confusing them. You’re destroying trust in a system that has been painstakingly reformed through years of blood, sweat and negotiations. That’s not activism. That’s sabotage.
If you love Malawi, then build voter confidence. Educate your followers about how voting works, how counting is done, how results are transmitted and verified. Help them understand the system—not fear it.
Focus on the Real Battle: Monitoring and Risk Management
If you’re serious about safeguarding elections, stop wasting time with empty protests. Use your energy to strengthen monitoring systems. Hire independent experts to conduct risk assessments on each stage—voting, counting, transmission, announcement.
The battlefield is at the polling station, not the street corner.
Malawi deserves credible, peaceful elections. Let’s not blow it by chasing shadows. MEC isn’t perfect—no institution is—but discrediting it without facts, especially when your own party is part of it, is not patriotism. It’s political malpractice.
We can’t afford that—not now, not ever.
Source:Nyasatimes
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