High expectations for MEC chair and commissioners.

Electoral stakeholders are asking newly appointed Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson and commissioners to serve their respective offices with integrity.

President Lazarus Chakwera yesterday appointed Justice Annabel Mtalimanja as chairperson of the electoral body replacing Justice Chifundo Kachale.

Chakwera has also appointed Phillip Kambulire and Limbikani Kamlongera as MEC Commissioners replacing Anthony Mukumbwa and Olivia Liwewe.

Chairperson of the National Advocacy Platform (NAP) Benedicto Kondowe, said he expects boldness from the new appointees.

“The new commissioners and MEC Chairperson have been tasked to uphold MEC constitution and exercise impartiality and ensure free and fair elections next year in the 2025 general polls. That is the same expectation every Malawian has at the moment” Kondowe said.

Unandi Banda, the executive director of the National Elections Systems Trust said the new office bearers need to keep in mind that they are serving the public.

“They must be aware that they have the mandate of serving Malawians thus the ultimate need to serve with utmost integrity for the good of the nation” Banda explained.

Meanwhile Alliance For Democracy (AFORD) Publicist Annie Maluwa said the party is confident that the newly elected officials will pick up from where their predecessors left off.

She said “We are expecting the new MEC Chairperson and the two other commissioners to deliver on the electoral body’s mandate so that we can achieve free and fair credible elections”

Maluwa also made mention of the commitment by the president to ensure gender balance is achieved in the appointments.