By Chisomo Phiri
A senior lecturer in statistics at the University of Malawi (UNIMA), Dr. Tsilizani Mwalimu Kaombe ,has raised concerns over the integrity of data captured during the voter registration process, following revelations that more than 14,000 duplicate entries were recorded in the system.
In a Facebook post seen by this publication, Kaombe has expressed dismay over the incident, citing that in a well-designed data collection system such as those developed using tools like ODK or CSPro such a high number of duplicate registrations should not occur if proper logical checks are in place.
“In a well-programmed data capturing tool like ODK or CSPro, with clear logical checks, having over 14,000 contaminated records due to repeated entries should raise serious concerns.
“It is unclear whether each of the 14,000 individuals registered twice, three times, or even more, but what is evident is that they registered multiple times,”says kaombe.
The lecturer emphasizes that responsibility should not only rest on the individuals who committed the act_an offense under electoral law but also on those who designed and managed the voter registration system.
He specifically points to the need for accountability from the developers of the Smartmatic application used by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), as well as MEC’s own ICT team, programmers, network and data managers.
“MEC should hold accountable the designers of the Smartmatic app, alongside its own ICT team and related officials, for allowing such a significant failure.The commission should also report the 14,000 individuals to police for appropriate legal action,” he adds.
While the MEC has not yet issued a detailed public statement addressing the technical aspects of the data duplication, the matter has ignited widespread debate over the reliability of digital voter registration systems and the preparedness of institutions tasked with safeguarding electoral integrity.
The development comes as the country gears up for September 16 general elections, with stakeholders calling for immediate improvements in data security, system auditing, and accountability across all levels of the electoral process.
