The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has refuted social media reports that some ballot papers have been tempered with.
This comes after pictures circulated on the social media showing a carton purportedly dropped from a Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Truck which was delivering polling materials to districts on Thursday.
However, the commission through its Chief Elections Officer Sam Alufandika has denied the rumours in circulation saying official ballot papers are packed and sealed in pallets.
Alufandika said the carton in the picture does not resemble the ballot paper boxes and is not in any way containing part of the ballot papers being delivered to constituencies.
“The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has been availed with pictures circulating on social media showing a carton purportedly dropped from a Malawi Defence Force (MDF) Truck delivering polling materials.
“The ballots papers are packed and sealed in pallets and the carton in the picture does not resemble the ballot paper boxes and is not in any way containing part of the ballot papers being delivered to constituencies,” said Alufandika in a press statement.
However, he said the Commission is verifying with all vehicles that have been involved in dispatching of non-sensitive polling materials to establish if there is any consignment missing.
He has since reminded Stakeholders that the Commission will conduct a pre-inspection exercise on Sunday, May 19, 2019 whereby Presiding Officers shall open all polling materials to check if they are in right order and quantity.
He added that this exercise will also check any anomalies that could have derailed polling if discovered on the polling day.
