MESN TO HOLD POST ELECTION REVIEW CONFERENCE

Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) will hold a two days post-election conference to review the May 20 tripartite election and the conference will be held in Lilongwe starting from June 27.
This has been disclosed through a press statement dated June 5 2014 signed by the Board Chairperson Mr Steve Duwa made available to Face of Malawi.
According to the statement, the conference has been organized to identify weaknesses and strengths in the delivery of 2014 tripartite elections, identify areas for electoral review as well as develop an action plan based on lessons learnt and suggest recommendations for future elections particularly for 2019.
“In the just ended 2014 elections, MESN deployed 84 long term observers (LTO), 800 parallel vote tabulation (PVT) observers and 1500 short term observers (STO) throughout the country in all the 28 districts and 183 constituencies.
” Through reports from the observers, MESN noted that there were several challenges associated with electoral process at each stage: voter registration, nomination, campaign, inspection of the voters’ roll, voting, tallying and announcements of results. MESN has therefore organized this conference as a way of responding to these challenges”, reads the statement in part.
The statement further says: “At the end of the two day conference, MESN will document successes and challenges as well as ; lessons learnt from the 2014 elections and capitalize on gains. MESN will then develop a strategic plan for 2019 elections; document recommendations and proposals for electoral reforms in Malawi; while creating a platform for advocacy and lobbying of those reforms”.
The conference will bring together representatives from Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), political parties, the media, security forces, Religious bodies; youth organizations; women organizations; development partners and government ministries and departments and constitutional bodies.