First Batch of Malawi's 2025 Election Devices Arrives
Malawi's tripartite elections for president, parliament and local councils are slated for September 2025.
LILONGWE, Malawi — Preparations for Malawi's 2025 tripartite elections are underway with the arrival of the first 288 out of 6,500 election management devices procured by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), writes Gladys Nthenda.
The devices landed at Kamuzu International Airport this week and will be used for voter registration starting in September, as well as candidate nominations, according to MEC Commissioner Emmanuel Fabiano.
Fabiano said the initial batch will allow training of over 15,000 personnel in June on use of the electronic voter registration equipment.
Remaining devices are still being manufactured.
"We cannot wait for every piece of equipment to come before the training starts," Fabiano stated.
"The training has to start and make sure that everybody who is supposed to be trained is trained."
He said by July, two months before voter registration, all training should be complete to ensure readiness with the devices, which will electronically transmit voter data.
"Unlike in previous polls, it will not be done manually but use electronic equipment," Fabiano said of the voter register compilation process.
While all parties were invited to witness the devices' arrival, only representatives from the DPP, UTM and Liberation for Economic Freedom Party attended, reflecting MEC's push for transparency.
"We're saying that the first consignment of the equipment has come today. We have told the parties, you have come and every time we receive the equipment we'll let you know," Fabiano said.
Malawi's tripartite elections for president, parliament and local councils are slated for September 2025.