SKC Engages MEC on Reforms

State vice president Saulos Chilima today engaged officials from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on the progress of reforms the commission is undertaking.

Writing on his Facebook page the vice president said MEC team was led by the commission’s chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale.

“This morning, I held a meeting with the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) management team led by Chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale to learn about the reforms they are undertaking to ensure that future elections are conducted in an efficient and professional manner,” said Chilima.

According to Chilima the bedrock of reforms at MEC are electoral (Legal) reforms and institutional.

Chilima further added that the presentation by MEC chairperson was comprehensive and insightful once implemented.

Chilima said “The reforms will radically change the way elections are conducted in this country.”

H added; “For instance, apart from proposed harmonization of electoral laws and legislating the consequential directions given by the High Court in the Presidential election nullification case, MEC is working on legal reforms that would lead to the commission’s operational independence and financial autonomy as well as provide clarity on appointment or removal of Commissioners,”

Singling out the part of reforms that got his attention most, Chilima said “the is a need to automate some of MEC’s core electoral activities as this would eventually lead to creation of voting or voter registration systems that are efficient, effective and foolproof,”

“I have committed our support to the proposal to relocate the commission’s head office from Blantyre to Lilongwe as this would reduce operational costs by 30 percent. To this end, I have requested for a cost-benefit analysis in addition to a roadmap clearly stating timelines, budgets and specific individuals to drive particular reform areas,” he said.