Justice Mtalimanja assures Malawians of sufficient ink for September 16 Elections, including possible re-run
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Anabel Mtalimanja, has assured Malawians that the amount of indelible ink procured is sufficient to cater for the September 16 tripartite elections and any possible runoff that may arise.
Justice Mtalimanja made the remarks at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe during the official reception of a consignment of indelible ink, which will be used to mark voters on election day.
The ink arrived at KIA on Friday afternoon, August 8, aboard Emirates Flight No. EK9747, bringing a sense of readiness as the electoral process enters its final stages of preparation.
She explained that the indelible ink plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the election process by ensuring that each person votes only once.
“Today, we have received a consignment of indelible ink that the Commission procured in preparation for polling on September 16. As you know, in line with our processes to uphold the principle of one person, one vote, we use this ink to mark those who have already voted, preventing anyone from voting more than once,” Justice Mtalimanja stated.
Despite the successful delivery, she expressed disappointment at the low turnout of political party representatives who came to witness the consignment’s arrival.
She, however, acknowledged that many political parties may have been busy with ongoing campaign activities across the country.
Among those present was Beauty Kumtomoni, aspiring Member of Parliament for Lilongwe Mpenu Constituency under the Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu political grouping.
Kumtomoni welcomed the arrival of the ink and echoed the MEC Chairperson’s remarks, assuring voters that the supplies are adequate, even in the event of a rerun.
The event attracted several stakeholders, including journalists, independent candidates, and representatives from registered political parties.
Together, they witnessed the receipt and safe storage of approximately 161,920 bottles of indelible ink, a crucial step in ensuring transparency and accountability in the upcoming elections.
