Malawi Sets Voter Registration Dates as Opposition Leader Tours District
The registration period represents a critical first step in Malawi's electoral process, with the commission focusing on accurate logistical planning for the upcoming polls.
MULANJE, Malawi — The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) announced Friday that voter registration for the 2025 general elections will begin on October 21 and continue through November 4, 2024, as opposition leaders hit the ground to rally support, writes Moses Thole.
Kondwani Nankumwa, leader of the People's Development Party (PDP), wasted no time mobilizing voters, meeting with party officials in Mulanje District on the same day as MEC's announcement.
"We must ensure every eligible voter participates in this crucial democratic process," Nankumwa said, accompanied by National Governing Council members Margret Mwase, Alice Lita, and Dinna Solomon.
The meeting's timing is significant as Nankumwa has declared his presidential ambitions for 2025, setting up a potential three-way race against incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party and former President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party.
MEC emphasized the registration drive's importance for maintaining electoral integrity.
"This process will help us clean up the voter register and remove deceased individuals," said a MEC spokesperson.
The commission has already accredited 116 civil society organizations to conduct voter education.
The announcement marks the first phase of preparations for what is expected to be a highly contested election in this southeastern African nation, where voter participation historically plays a crucial role in determining political outcomes.
The registration period represents a critical first step in Malawi's electoral process, with the commission focusing on accurate logistical planning for the upcoming polls.