Chisankho Watch has urged political parties in Malawi to stop spreading misinformation and disinformation that could deter supporters and eligible voters from registering.
During a press briefing in Lilongwe, where findings from Phase One of the voter registration exercise were presented, Board Chairperson Bishop Gilford Matonga highlighted incidents of misinformation in Chiradzulu, Nguludi, and Karonga South constituencies.
“There were claims that taking fingerprints during electronic voter registration meant individuals had already cast their votes for the 2025 general elections,” Matonga noted, expressing concern that such misinformation might have discouraged some from registering.
Matonga urged political parties to encourage their supporters to participate in upcoming registration phases without any undue influence.
The findings also revealed that Malawi’s voter registration process, especially in biometric and documentation protocols, complied with procedural standards. Chisankho Watch noted that substantial efforts were made to educate voters across all three regions during the first registration phase.
Chisankho Watch, a coalition of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), the Public Affairs Committee (PAC), the Gender and Justice Unit, and Mhub, aims to ensure transparent, inclusive, and peaceful elections in Malawi.
To monitor registration centers, the coalition trained and deployed 49 observers to oversee Phase One. It will continue observing the process in Phase Two, scheduled to begin on November 9, 2024.
