MEC to apply for polling date extension
Malawi Electoral Commission says is contemplating to approach the court for an extension of the polling date of by elections in seven constituencies and 2 wards after the court ordered it to conduct the polls within 60 days.
Speaking in Blantyre during a press briefing on the preparedness to hold the by elections on 30th March MEC chairperson Justice Dr Chifundo Kachale, said part of the reason for seeking to extend the time-frame, are issues of procurement for services such as printing of ballots under relevant procurement statutes, which state that tenders should be done within a period of not less than 45 days.
Kachale said all those processes will require time therefore may not be able to complete them within the prescribed 60 days hence seeking the engagement of PPDA to consider granting them authority to single source those services.
“In areas that fell vacant because of court nullification, which are Chikwawa East, Nsanje North and Nsanje Central constituencies, there will be only voter verification and no registration of new voters,” Kachale
Kachale added that, Registration of new voters and voter verification will take place during the same period in all the constituencies and wards which have fallen vacant because of death of MPs and councilors elected in 2019.
