UN Urges Malawi to Conduct Credible Elections in May

Conrad Omodiagbe, March 14, 2019

In a recent statement released by the United Nations (UN), the organisation called on the government of Malawi to do all it can to ensure that the country’s tripartite elections, scheduled to hold on May 21, is conducted in a peaceful and credible manner.

According to a report by Nyasa Times, the statement was made by the UN Emergency Relief coordinator and the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, during a meeting with Malawian president, Peter Mutharika at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe.

“This is an election year for Malawi, I believe Malawi will remain a model in conducting free, fair and peaceful elections in this African region. Elections are always contested but that should be done in a peaceful manner,” said Lowcock.

“Malawi is among the first countries in Africa to manage peaceful transition of power from one ruling government to another after elections, so it is our expectation that this will continue.”

Lowcock also urged the authorities to avoid bias and ensure that a level playing field is available for all candidates, as well as support the creation of an environment conducive to coordinate free, fair and credible polls.

He also revealed that the UN was doing everything within its power to support the Malawian electoral body in charge of organizing and monitoring the elections, the Malawi Electoral Commission.

Welcoming the UN representative and addressing him on behalf of the people, Malawi’s President Mutharika, thanked the organisation for its continuous support of his government, especially on the humanitarian front.

Malawi’s election will see about 6.8 million voters exercise their civic duty by electing a president from a list that includes incumbent President Mutharika; Vice President, Saulos Chilima and former President Joyce Banda at the polls, while 1331 candidates slug it out for the country’s 193 parliamentary seats.

Banda and Chilima previously formed an alliance to defeat Mutharika, before the former president broke faith and declared her intention to under the People’s Party.

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