Govt not sweating over lack of commissioners at Mec

Government says it is not worried about the absence of commissioners at Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).

The electoral body does not have commissioners after the terms of the recent office holders expired on May 17, 2016.

But Minister of information, communications technology and civic education Patricia Kaliati said Malawians should not be troubled since new commissioners will be announced soon.

“We will soon announce the names of the newly appointed commissioners so people must not get worried,” said Kaliati.

She added that the absence of commissioners will not affect MEC as there are officers who are working tirelessly there.

Previously, Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) proposed that the system of appointing its commissioners should be changed, a move which political experts in the country applauded saying it will end favouritism during elections.

The experts suggested that MEC commissioners should be people who are professionals and not just representatives of political parties.

But PP spokesperson Ken Msonda trashed the move saying it is against the laws of Malawi.

He said the laws give the president powers to appoint commissioners recommended by the country’s political parties.