MEC rejects Presidential ballot template circulating on social media

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has rejected a Presidential ballot template circulating on the social media ahead of the forthcoming May 21 polls, saying the template is fake.

On Wednesday, the social media was awash with a Presidential ballot template showing how Presidential candidates will appear on the final ballot for the forthcoming May 21 tripartite election.

According to the said template, main opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and his runningmate Muhammad Sidik Mia are appearing first followed by Dr. Saulos Chilima of United Tranformation Movement (UTM).

President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and his runningmate Overton Chimulirenji are last on the template.

But MEC Director of Media and Public Relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa has dismissed the template, saying its fake.

“This is fake.. Ignore it.. The commission will circulate the original template in due course,” wrote Mwafulirwa on his official facebook page.

“For the sake of information, all stakeholders are being informed that the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act guides that names of candidates should be arranged following alphabetical order of surnames.

“Stakeholders are also encouraged disregard everything spread on social media if it is not coming from MEC.”

Meanwhile it is not known as to who issued the fake template.