The Opposition Assembly for Democracy and Development (ADD) has asked the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to postpone fresh presidential elections slated for 2 July 2020 amidst coronavirus fears.
ADD’s President and Founder, Dr. Cassim Chilumpha made the appeal on Monday through a statement posted on his official facebook page.
Dr. Chilumpha also called upon MEC to cancel the voter’s registration exercise which currently underway in some districts across the country.
“MEC should postpone the on-going voter registration. Malawi cannot make credible preparations for an election in the present climate.
No Malawian should have to choose between going out to register for an election and staying at home to avoid infection by the corona virus. We all have the fundamental right to life,” posted Dr. Chilumpha, who is also former Vice President.
A popular social-political activist, Billy Banda of Malawi Watch also called the electoral body to put on hold the electoral process.
Recently, MEC’s Spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa told a local media that the Commission cannot postpone the Presidential Election unless the Court orders them to do so.
Mwafulirwa also assured the nation that the Commission was aware and watchful of the threats and has put in place measures aimed at eliminating the risk of people contracting the virus while participating in the electoral processes.
Stakeholder to the recent National Elections Consultative Forum (NECOF) meeting in Mangochi proposed that the Presidential Elections be put on hold following the thread of COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Malawi has registered a fifth case of Covid-19 with a period of six days, thus according to a Special Cabinet Committee of Coronavirus which was set aside by Malawi president Professor Peter Mutharika.
mukuwopa chan a dpp pamozi ndi aganyu inu a malawi voice za colona ndi za colona ,za masankho ndi za masankho tithanepo apa zithe ,kaya kukhale kolona kaya kulibe tonse tizafabe