Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, New MEC Chairperson

President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed High Court Judge Justice Annabel Mtalimanja as Malawi Elctoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson.

Justice Mtalimanja’s appointment follows Chifundo Kachale’s expiry of his tenure on 6 June 2024 after serving as MEC Chairperson from 2020.

In a statement MEC’s Director of Media and Public Relations Sangwani Mwafilirwa said the appointment was effective 7th June 2024.

Mwafulirwa said the President has also appointed two new MEC commissioners reverend Phillip PJ Kambulire and Limbikani Kamlongera replacing Anthony John Mukumbwa and Olivia Mchanju Liwewe whose tenure ended on 6 June as well.

NGO-Gender Cordination Network Chairperson Maggie Kathewera Banda commended the appointment saying it shows that the nation is slowly implementing the gender equality Act.

“We are very happy and this appointment is an inspiration to alot of women. It shows governments trust towards women leadership in critical positions” said Kathewera Banda.

She says this is also encouraging to them as an organisation as they have been advocating for equal representation of men and women in key positions.

“I believe that Justice Mtalimanja will perform her duties diligently as she takes the responsibility of heading MEC” added Kathewera.

Concurring with Kathewera is Political Gender Rights Activist Yamikani Chitete who welcomed the appointment.

Chitete said “this is a very good development, if you followed Justice Mtalimanja well, you would agree that she is someone who performs her duties with due diligence and she is trustworthy”.

She said though the Commission will now being chaired by a lady, it is still worrisome that out of the 6 commissioners only one is female.

“In positions where the president has a prerogative to choose people, we expect him to be gender sensitive to have gender balance” said Chitete.

President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed the three, in accordance with section 75 of the constitution and section 4 of the Malawi Electoral Commission Act.