MEC INTENSIFIES INTERFACE MEETINGS ON RE-DERMACATION EXERCISE

By Serah Chikwapula & Vyalema Kaluluma Phiri

The Malawi Electoral Commission has continued its engagement with electoral stakeholders to lobby support for the re-demarcation of ward and constituency boundaries.

MEC is expected to embark on the exercise next year February which will create 35 new constituencies to already existing 193.  

Speaking during an electoral stakeholders meeting in Blantyre on Monday, MEC Chairperson Justice Dr Chifundo Kachali said the process remains very paramount to help stakeholders understand the proposed demarcation exercise.

Kachali further clarified that some areas will be combined with different traditional areas which will be under one Member of Parliament. 

Kachali added the main purpose of the re-demarcation exercise remains to boost equal share of development projects and electorates. 

Meanwhile electoral stakeholders in Mzuzu have agreed with MEC’s decision to increase the number of constituencies from one to three after thorough consultations.

Since Mzuzu was declared a city in 1987 it has had only one constituency which is Mzuzu City but following the consensus the new constituencies are Mzuzu North, Mzuzu South-East and Mzuzu West, but the fifteen wards have been maintained.

According to Mzuzu City Council Chief Executive Officer Gomezgani Nyasulu, the three constituencies have been arrived at after projecting that the number of eligible voters in 2025 will be 154,998 with each constituency expected to have 51,663 eligible voters.

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for Mzuzu City, Bennex Mwamlima expressed optimism the additional constituencies will propel development.  

In his remarks, Malawi Electoral Commission Commissioner, Anthony Mukumbwa said MEC is delighted stakeholders in Mzuzu are excited with the increment in constituencies.

Mkumbwa said the commission wants the re-demarcation exercise to be done every ten years to coincide with the housing and population census.