By Burnett Munthali
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has expressed strong concern over the Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) decision to reject calls for an independent audit of the country’s electoral systems.
Speaking on behalf of the party, DPP Secretary General Peter Mukhito described the move as a serious blow to electoral transparency and credibility in the lead-up to the 2025 general elections.
Mukhito emphasized that the DPP has long harbored doubts about the integrity of Malawi’s electoral processes, and MEC’s refusal to accommodate an external review only serves to strengthen those fears.
“This was MEC’s chance to prove it has nothing to hide,” said Mukhito. “Instead, it shut the door on transparency and cast a dark cloud over the 2025 elections.”
He explained that the proposed audit was not intended to undermine MEC, but rather to inspect critical areas such as the voter registration database, election technologies, and the results transmission process.
Mukhito stressed that such an audit was crucial in restoring public confidence in the electoral system, which he said has been eroding over time.
He further argued that accepting the audit would have given MEC an opportunity to demonstrate its independence, accountability, and commitment to fair elections.
By rejecting the initiative, Mukhito said, MEC has only fueled public suspicion and raised serious red flags about the credibility of the upcoming elections.
The DPP is now calling for urgent electoral reforms and greater transparency from MEC to ensure that Malawians can place their trust in the outcome of the 2025 elections and those that follow.
The party insists that without such measures, the integrity of Malawi’s democracy remains at risk.
