Malawi Elections 2009 : MEC to receive new nominations

ASPIRANTS for Presidential and Parliamentary seats who failed to submit their nomination papers for one reason or another in the May 19 General Elections would be given a second opportunity to do so at a date that Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) would announce soon.

The decision to re-open the nomination exercise was made during a consultative meeting which took place at Mec headquarters in Blantyre on Friday between Mec commissioners and all political parties which are competing in the May 19 General Elections.

Official statistics indicate that a total of 1,151 parliamentary candidates presented their nomination forms to Mec between February 2 and 6 in which 218 were submitted by women and 933 by men. There are a total of 16 political parties involved whereas 482 of the candidates who submitted the nomination forms are independent candidates.

Mec Chairperson Anastasia Msosa said the electoral body accepted the plea from parties to re-open the nomination exercise because there was already a group of independent female candidates who asked Mec for consideration.

"There was already a concern from female aspirants who complained immediately after the closing date that they had failed to meet the deadline because they could not raise the K100,000 nomination fee on time. Now it seems all parties have the same concern that is why we think it is prudent to give them another chance," she said.

Mec also agreed to give a second opportunity for aspirants who already submitted their nomination letters but who for some reasons such as wanting to change from one party to another, would like to resubmit their nomination letters.

However, Msosa said those who resubmit their nominations would forfeit their K100,000 fee and would have to pay another K100,000.

During the meeting Mec proposed to reopen the nomination exercise on March 18th and 19th but Malawi Congress Party MCP representative Joseph Njobvuyalema proposed that the date should come after announcing the nomination results on March 20 which was agreed to by all.

"Reopening the nomination exercise after March 20 would give parties the opportunity to identify new candidates to replace those who have been disqualified," Njovuyalema observed.

Another bone of contention which opposition parties raised at the meeting was that Mec should redefine the role which the police would play during campaign period which is scheduled to start on March 17.

United Democratic Front (UDF) representative Hophmally Makande observed that police are overplaying their mandate by giving themselves the power to grant permission to or deny parties which want to hold a rally in a particular area.

"The law only requires that we give a letter of notice to District Commissioners and a copy of the same to the police before we hold a meeting. We understand the reason behind this is to regulate the campaign so that no two parties clash at one venue. But what is happening is that the police have given themselves the powers of deciding which party should be granted permission to hold a rally where and in most cases the decision is against opposition parties," Makande said.

However Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) representative Hetherwick Ntaba said police are important because they ensure that the rallies are held in peaceful environment and there is no security threat.

Msosa also acknowledged that the police play an important role during campaign and promised to hold a meeting with police to sensitize them on what is expected of them as stipulated by the law so that they should professionally execute their duties without complaints from parties.

MCP Secretary General Christopher Daza also notified Mec that there are growing reports of unscrupulous politicians who are buying voter certificates from ordinary citizens and Mec advised the parties to engage police when ever there are such malpractices.

Earlier Msosa presented a report of the activities that have taken place so far and said the body registered 5.9 million voters against the projection of 6.2 million which translates to 96 percent voter registration turn out.

Msosa also said inspection of the voter registration would take place on March 30 and finish on April 3. She said, among other things, the exercise would address issues of voter transfers, delete names of voters reported dead, update missing information and recapture photos where they are missing.
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