Malawi: Voter education crucial for elections

PRESS STATEMENT

CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND REHABILITATION

STATEMENT ON SPOT CHECKS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE “ON GOING” 2004 VOTER REGISTRATION EXERCISE.

1. INTRODUCTION

The Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) whose main objectives are to promote and protect the constitutionally enshrined human rights and contribute towards consolidating democracy in Malawi is one of the accredited NGOs by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to monitor the 2004 Presidential and Parliamentary elections.

CHRR believes that effective and continuous election monitoring is imperative to a free and fair elections. This method permits mutual understanding between the voters and the service providers as well as instilling confidence in our hard won democracy. Recognizing the inherent fundamentals of democracy, CHRR has deployed three field line monitors in each constituency in all the eight districts of its operation (Karonga, Chitipa, Lilongwe, Salima, Mchinji, Dedza, Mangochi and Zomba).

Our spot checks and reports from the field line monitors reveal the following anomalies:

A. AVAILABILITY OF MATERIALS

For the past weeks of the registration exercise, most registration centres are reported not to have adequate necessary materials. Registration supervisors’ attempts to acquire such materials have proved to be difficult as in most cases the Returning Officers are inaccessible. This unfortunate climate is exacerbated by MEC official’s failure to supervise the registration process in most centres. It seems MEC officials have not visited most of the registration centers, yet this is a concluding week of the registration exercise. This is the reason why the civil society, much as they supported the extension of the registration period, they appealed to MEC to adequately supply materials as one of the key problems contributing to low registration output. Materials like duplicates, registration forms, tamper free bags, plastic pouches and files among others are often unavailable in most centres. CHRR wonders whether the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission told the nation the truth when he announced to the public that more than enough materials were available for the entire process.

B. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES

It has been observed that there are a lot of anomalies surrounding registration procedures. CHRR believes that the registration staff in the registration centres is incapacitated in terms of the technical know-how of the exercise and yet they have manuals in front of them. In some cases, the registration supervisors are failing to uphold the actual procedure for transfers. This is also compounded by MEC, which gave three procedures of handling transfers, some of which were aired on the radio. While some centres send away people to collect transfers from their previous centers, other centres handle them right on the spot. One therefore wonders which is the correct procedure. Will this state of affairs not end up in disenfranchising many voters? Also taking into account that most people are busy with farming and other activities that they are involved in, we would think that it would not be possible for these people who are sent away several times to come back and register. At one centre in Zomba, a registration supervisor gave party representatives the task of checking voters’ names in the registers when this is supposed to be done by registration clerks. Some registration staff members leave the centre and go home during working hours, leaving voters waiting on the queue. The most serious cases of double registration and interchanging of labeling of centres continue to be experienced as evidenced in Dedza and Mangochi districts respectively.

C. SECURITY

The presence and role of the police in the registration centres leaves a lot to be desired. While some centres have literally no police officers, in other centres the police operate from the police station, and only come whenever they are free. Such police officers are first all doing office work before they could be allowed to go to the centres. In some cases, they are called from the registration centres to do some work at their respective offices or at national functions. This scenario, as a result, leaves the registration staff and voters vulnerable to malpractice because the role of the police to provide security at the centers is not upheld.

D. UNWARRANTED CLOSURE OF SOME CENTRES

Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation has learnt with great concern that Chilinde II registration centre was closed on Saturday (17th January, 2004) when the State President held a rally at the school. CHRR believes that Malawi Electoral Commission was not supposed to grant UDF an opportunity to hold a public rally at the registration centre, knowing very well that the action would deny voters of their right to register or verify their names in the voters’ roll. In this case, MEC showed unbalanced stand, which contradicts the “Electoral Act”. This therefore does not only erode the credibility and professionalism of MEC but also does reflect the partiality of the institution. As an institution entrusted to carry out free and fair elections, MEC had an obligation to exercise its role and reject the proposal from UDF to hold a rally.

E. TIMING OF THE PROCESS VIS-A VIS LOW TURN OUT

It has also been observed that most centers have registered less than 400 new voters on average and another small proportion of old voters verifying their names. For instance, St Luke Registration Centre in Dedza had registered not more than 150 new voters for the past two weeks. This is worrying because it clearly indicates voter apathy in the May 18 elections. One of the contributing factors is low voter education due to the fact that less NGOs have been accredited and given resources for such activities. The other reason is lack of materials in many centers. This has made eligible voters to lose hope after perhaps being sent away several times due to shortage of films, transfers or registration forms. However, in many centers, especially in rural areas, many voters go to the registration centers after 4.00 PM. In such cases, some centers have denied people to register because they are coming late yet we know that most eligible voters are busy this time working in the field. Some people are betrayed by the late sunset time since the sun is still up when it is 4.00 pm.

F. INCLUSION OF MORE TEACHERS AS SUPERVISORS OR REGISTRATION CLERKS

The inclusion of more teachers in the registration process has left more to be desired. At some centres like Chingo School in Mangochi, all the 6 teachers at the school are registration staff. This puts them under pressure for them to attend to voters first while leaving pupils waiting for them. Much as we believe that the elections are important to the development of this country, education is equally as important. We would not have expected MEC doing this if they made thorough preparation and timing of the process.

G. PAYMENT TO REGISTRATION STAFF AT THE CENTRES

There has been an outcry from almost all the centres in our districts of operation that payment of money is discriminatory. None of the registration staff has been paid up to this day let alone being told how much and when they are probably likely to be paid. All this adds to lack of transparency on the part of MEC. While registration staff is working on empty stomachs, the police have all the reasons to smile. It is thus incredible that the police have been paid while those who do the actual work are neglected. This discriminative tendency of not paying registration staff on time is dangerous especially during the voting day because it can force the officials to be corrupted.

F. POLITICAL INTOLERANCE

CHRR is concerned with the increase in political intolerance in the run up to elections. For instance, in Chilonga Village in Mangochi Lutende Constituency, where the village head tore up an NDA party flag, which was mounted by its supporters, on instructions from the incumbent parliamentarian in that area. This practice shows lack of understanding of what multiparty politics is all about.

APPEAL

We appeal to Malawi Electoral Commission that the anomalies made in this statement as well as from other stakeholders are serious warning that thorough preparations are inevitable for a free and fair election. We plead with MEC to maintain their impartiality for the general public to have confidence in the institution.

Equally important is the fact that the observations made should remind MEC to time its activities properly as people will be going to cast their votes. Unless this is seriously looked into many voters are bound not to vote.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it is the feeling of CHRR that the one-week extension has not achieved anything in terms of increasing the number of new voters as well as those verifying their names. We expect the Electoral Commission to seriously consider extending further the registration period to enable those that failed to do so because of lack of materials to have a chance to register. Besides, we expect the commission to be transparent with payments to its registration staff so that the registration process is not compromised. We also expect the commission not to compromise their professionalism with political interference and personal interest.

The registration exercise should serve as a lesson to all stakeholders (donors, civil society organizations and the MEC) on the importance of voter and civic education for the success of this election. It is hoped that the lack of resources by civil society organizations to conduct voter and civic education, which has negatively affected the registration process will be rectified so that the electorate will see the need to fully participate in the May 18 elections. We hope the Electoral Commission will work on the logistical problems they have so far encountered. We also expect the donor community to give the voter and civic education a priority in the electoral process.

Ollen Mwalubunju

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND REHABILITATION