MEC ready for 2014 tripartite polls-Msosa

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Category: News Flash

Published on Friday, 03 August 2012 10:52

Written by Steve Chilundu

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) authorities declared on Thursday that they have sufficient time to prepare for the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections in 2014.

The pronouncement from MEC Chairperson Anastasia Msosa follows comments from the legal affairs committee of parliament that Malawi is not ready to hold the tripartite elections in 2014 due to financial and time constraints.

The committee also feared that rushing the polls will not lead to free, fair and credible general elections thereby proposing for 2019.

However, Msosa said the institution's view is that two years is enough to prepare for a free, fair and credible election.

The MEC chairperson, however said there only challenge is the need for massive civic education for the country's citizens to have knowledge on how to cast their three ballots.

MEC’s stand was made at the National Consultative Stakeholders Workshop Roadmap to 2014 general elections which aimed at finding means and ways towards a conducting a successful tripartite general election.

The workshop which was organised by Malawi Elections Systems Trust- MESN drew participants from Civil society, political party leaders, religious leaders and MEC authorities.

In reaction to MEC’s stand,  MESN Executive Director Aloysius Nthenda said as civil society with focus on elections they are geared ready to conduct massive civic education as per MEC demands.

Nthenda said “the civil society is ready to play their role for the country to have credible tripartite election in 2014.”

Malawi’s bilateral donors earlier also affirmed their financial support towards the preparations of the tripartite elections in 2014.

Malawi Parliament is yet to pass a bill that will allow the country to hold tripartite polls in 2014.