 AS Malawi gears up to go to what many are calling the closest electoral race in its history, a new report entitled: “Malawi- Political Participation and Democracy,” has pointed to the missed opportunity for electoral reforms in the country.
It states that the First Past The Post (FPTP) electoral system does not appear to be serving Malawi well. And ‘losers’ have ended up being crowned ‘winners’ in general elections. Currently Malawi’s electoral rules states that any person vying for political office is deemed the winner based on a simple majority.In essence, one can be a winner of an election without a mandate, as was the case in 1994 with former president Muluzi, who received only 47% of the vote. Ten years later this trend was repeated by late Bingu wa Mutharika, who garnered only 36% of the vote, yet still went on to be president, (although in 2009 Mutharika had 66% of the vote). In essence 64% of electorates rejected him, but because of the FPTP system, he ended up being at the helm of government. Continue reading |
Tag Archives: Malawi
THE Road So Far in Pictures With the MEIC
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- MEIC logo.
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- Geof taking a break.
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- Sando presents on the Target process.
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- Dumase Zgambo-Mapemba as she works
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- Jane Chirwa working.
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- Levi Kabwato in the office
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- Tambudzai and Sando having discussions
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- Levi in the office
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- Geof setting up the MEIC banner.
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- Panel at the Afrimap report.
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- Prof. Chijere-CHirwa
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- Audience at the Afrimap report in Malawi.
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- Briefs the audience at the Launch of the Elections Situation Room.
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- Part of the audience that attended the MEIC launch at Protea Ryalls Hotel.
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- Ruth Masangano at the launch of the Election Situation Room.
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- MEIC team heading to Mzuzu via Lake Shore
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- MEIC team as they explore the Ilala
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- Christine and Evalista after the Journalists workshop in Mzuzu.
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- Being patriotic and appreciating the Martyrs Monument.
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- As the MEIC team returns back to Blantyre from Mzuzu
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- Bridge along the Lake Shore road
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- Levi Kabwato with MEIC team as they mingle after Taskforce meeting.
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- SMAG Media and MEIC mingle.
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- Rose planning the ToT events.
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- SMAG Media’s Director Sando Johnson at the ToT
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- Geof Chirwa and Dumase Zgambo-Mapemba at the TOT
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- SMAG Media’s Rachel as she watches the TOT
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- The trainers as the training continues.
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- King Rudi as he addresses the trainers on Code of Conduct for the Observers
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- Dumase Zgambo-Mapemba, MEIC Project Manager: Training and Media conducting the training.
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- TOT as Sando Johnson gives his remarks
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- Roll play: trainers demonstrate election day, vote counting, monitoring and observation.
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- Levi Kabwato at the TOT in Blantyre.
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- Glen from OSISA visits the MEIC offices.
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- Dumase Zgambo-Mapemba prepares for TOT for Lilongwe and Mzuzu.
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- Gertrude Pourrier shys away from the camera.
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- Late night for the team
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- Late night in the office with Sando.
MEIC_2014 would like to thank the following for all their input in this project: OSISA, HIVOS, Afrimap, Glen Mpani, Sando Johnson, Gertrude Pourrier, Dumase Zgambo-Mapemba, Geof Chirwa, Levi Kabwato, Ruth Masangano, Rosenana Roka, and Christine Malata.
1st Training of Trainers hailed as a success
Role play: trainers demonstrate election day vote counting, monitoring and observation.
THE Malawi Election Information Centre (MEIC) has kick-started a series of Training of Trainers (ToTs) with a session in Blantyre, the country’s commercial capital. At least 56 ToTs are expected to be trained across Malawi’s three regions: Southern, Central and Northern.
The primary objective of the training is to equip selected individuals with multiple skills that enable trainees to further train and impart the same skills to independent election observers.
Officially opening the one-day training at Hotel Victoria on Wednesday, 9 April, SMAG Media Director, Sando Johnson, said the work carried out by observers was of fundamental importance to the successful running of the Election Situation Room (ESR) in Malawi. Continue reading
PUBLIC NOTICE: Resumption of Voters Roll Insepection
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is informing all registered
voters, political parties, civil society organisations and the general
public that it has worked on the inconsistencies that were
discovered in the voters roll and it is now ready to resume the
exercise.
The first phase of the exercise will start from Wednesday, April 9 to
Sunday, April 13, 2014.
For more details CLICK HERE
It’s a wrap! MEIC completes media briefings
THE Malawi Election Information Centre (MEIC) team completed its series of media briefings in Mzuzu on March 31. This was the third time MEIC was interacting with Malawian journalists following Blantyre and Lilongwe briefings earlier in the month.
MEIC Project Manager: Media & Publicity, Levi Kabwato, being interviewed by the journalists in Mzuzu.
MEIC has been sensitising journalists about its project, showing what systems have been put in place in order to enhance the electoral process in Malawi under the banner of the Election Situation Room (ESR). Continue reading
Election Situation Room Launches in Malawi
THE Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) has launched the Malawi Election Information Center (MEIC), a multi-stakeholder initiative that establishes an Election Situation Room (ESR) in the country.
MEC Chief Elections Officer, Willie Kalonga, launching the Election Situation Room. – MEIC
The ESR is being run in Malawi for the very first time and is targeting the tripartite elections scheduled for 20 May. Countries that have previously run an ESR include Nigeria, Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Tanzania, among others.
The primary aim of MEIC is to use multi-stakeholder collaboration as a way of enhancing the holding of free, fair and credible elections in Malawi. This means that the ESR will provide a platform where Civil Society Organisations come together to positively contribute on elections observations, monitoring rapid response and proactive advocacy. Continue reading
[Updated] VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: Voluntary Data Officer
Opportunity base: Blantyre, Malawi
Opportunity closing date: 12 March, 2014
Opportunity type: Short-term Voluntary
Elections have been long considered to be a critical process in the life of any democratic State. The regular holding of free, fair and credible elections is, therefore, seen and understood as strong adherence to the tenets of democracy – majority rule, freedom and progress.
The advent of new communication technologies has revolutionised the approach to electoral process, with various possibilities for enhanced transparency and accountability arising. That is why we have set up the Malawi Election Information Centre (MEIC), with the aim of running an Election Situation Room during Malawi’s tripartite elections in May 2014.
About the Role
As a Data Officer, you will be responsible for data entry, data analysis and monitoring the real time performance of short-term observers deployed across the country. In this role, you will also produce customised reports for regular presentation to specific MEIC stakeholders. You will work closely with the Media and ICT teams and report to the Project Manager: ICT. Continue reading
NOTICE OF NOMINATION OF PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATES
WHEREAS the Malawi Electoral Commission ‘hereinafter called the Commission’ received nomination papers from aspiring Parliamentary candidates in all the Constituencies in the Republic of Malawi at diverse Council Headquarters throughout the Republic from 10th to 14th February, 2014;
WHEREAS the Commission analysed all the nomination papers of all the Parliamentary candidates;
WHEREAS the Commission took cognizance of the qualifications and disqualifications of a Parliamentary candidate in accordance with the following: Continue reading
MEIC drills journalists
The Malawi Election Information Centre (MEIC) on Tuesday trained journalists on how to use its platform….