By Burnett Munthali
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja has urged electoral stakeholders to begin implementing recommendations from the 2025 General Election Post-Election Review (PER) immediately, warning that preparations for credible future elections cannot be left until the eve of polling.
Mtalimanja said Malawi must abandon the practice of treating elections as isolated events and instead adopt a continuous electoral cycle in which reforms, voter education, institutional strengthening and democratic governance are pursued throughout the period between elections.
She said the quality of the 2030 General Election would largely depend on the actions taken by stakeholders from now.
“Our task is not merely to prepare for another election, but to strengthen our democratic governance,” Mtalimanja said.
The post-election review identified several institutional, legal and operational weaknesses that require attention to protect public confidence and strengthen future electoral processes.
Although the 2025 election was generally regarded as peaceful and was positively assessed by citizens and international observers, consultations conducted by MEC revealed continuing vulnerabilities within the electoral environment.
The review has recommended strengthening the independence, institutional capacity and accountability of MEC, improving political party regulation and coordination among key institutions, while also addressing declining voter participation, rising campaign costs, misinformation and the limited representation of women and persons with disabilities in elected positions.
Stakeholders also raised concerns about public distrust in MEC, hostile political narratives and difficulties associated with the introduction of new electoral technologies.
The figures contained in the review highlight the participation challenge facing Malawi. Of the projected eligible electorate, 7,203,390 people registered to vote, representing 64.87 percent. Of those registered, 76.4 percent eventually cast their ballots, meaning only 49.56 percent of the eligible voting population participated.
The report also linked the large number of independent candidates to weaknesses in internal democracy within political parties, noting that independent candidates accounted for 39 percent of all candidates who contested the election.
Women’s representation in Parliament also declined, falling from 22 percent to 20.9 percent.
The review further warned of emerging threats to the country’s electoral environment, including possible political pressure affecting MEC’s operational independence, declining international financing for electoral programmes, limited resources for civil society organisations conducting civic and voter education, and the growing threat posed by misinformation and disinformation.
UN Resident Coordinator Rebecca Addah Dontoh urged Malawi to build on the achievements of the 2025 election and begin strengthening the electoral system well ahead of 2030.
Centre for Multiparty Democracy executive director Boniface Chibwana similarly called for immediate implementation of the recommended reforms, arguing that waiting until 2030 would leave insufficient time to correct weaknesses.
Chisankho Watch chairperson Bishop Gilford Matonga, meanwhile, emphasised the need to guarantee the genuine independence of MEC.
Civil society organisations also experienced financial difficulties during the previous electoral cycle, limiting their ability to conduct civic and voter education and observe the electoral process.
The emerging consensus among electoral stakeholders is therefore that Malawi’s next election cannot be secured through last-minute preparations. The credibility of the 2030 polls will depend on whether the country uses the intervening years to implement reforms, strengthen institutions, rebuild public confidence and create a more inclusive democratic environment.
