In a firm and unflinching rebuttal that reverberated across Malawi’s political landscape, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, has categorically denied opposition-driven allegations that voter names have been tampered with or are missing from the Commission’s database—dismissing the claims as “baseless, deliberate falsehoods” aimed at undermining public trust in the country’s democratic processes.
Standing before a room of reporters in Lilongwe, her voice steady and resolute, Justice Mtalimanja delivered a blistering counteroffensive against what she described as a “coordinated campaign of misinformation” led by opposition figures desperate to cast doubt over the credibility of MEC’s recently concluded voter registration exercise.
“There has been no deletion, no disappearance, and no manipulation of the voter roll,” she stated emphatically. “These claims are not only false—they are reckless. They threaten the very fabric of the democratic process and seek to sow unnecessary discord and fear among Malawians.”
Though she refrained from naming specific individuals, her words were clearly directed at the camp of former President Peter Mutharika, whose allies—most notably Shadrick Namalomba—have been vocally asserting that the integrity of the voter database is compromised. Critics have suggested that the opposition’s sudden alarm over the voters’ roll is less about safeguarding democracy and more about crafting a preemptive excuse for an electoral loss, especially amid growing internal concerns about Mutharika’s diminishing political viability due to his advancing age.
Observers close to the electoral process have noted that such tactics mirror a familiar pattern: discrediting institutions in anticipation of defeat. But Justice Mtalimanja was having none of it.
“I urge all Malawians to ignore these false narratives,” she said. “The Commission remains steadfast in its commitment to transparency, impartiality, and the protection of every eligible citizen’s right to vote.”
Her remarks land at a pivotal moment as Malawi prepares for its next electoral cycle, with tensions simmering and political actors jostling for strategic advantage. In the fog of political posturing, Justice Mtalimanja’s statement pierced through with unmistakable clarity: the Malawi Electoral Commission will not be used as a scapegoat in anyone’s game of political preservation.
As the sun sets on another day in Lilongwe, one message is unmistakably clear: in the face of misinformation and manipulation, the guardians of Malawi’s democracy are standing firm.
