In a rare split with his party, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) member and Electoral Commission Commissioner Francis Kasaila has expressed support for the use of Smartmatic technology in Malawi’s 2024 general election, contradicting the DPP’s official stance.
The DPP, along with other opposition parties, has raised concerns about Smartmatic’s role in past elections globally, alleging the company has enabled electoral fraud in certain countries.
These parties, including the Alliance for Democracy, UTM, and the United Democratic Front, have collectively called for the removal of both Smartmatic gadgets and Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja.
However, Kasaila defended Smartmatic in an interview, downplaying the concerns as “neither here nor there.” He pointed to the company’s positive track record in Zambia and Kenya, where it provided election technology without reported issues.
“Smartmatic has a reputation of supplying gadgets for the management of elections across the globe,” he said, emphasizing the stability of Smartmatic’s technology in the two neighboring countries.
The DPP has not yet commented on Kasaila’s statements, but the demand for electoral changes highlights the growing tension around the 2024 electoral process as opposition parties push for increased transparency and reform.
