PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (22/05/2013) CLARIFICATION ON MEDIA REPORTS THAT MEC PLANS TO CONDUCT MOCK POLLS FOR CIVIC EDUCATION

Malawi Electoral Commission wishes to clarify recent media reports on broadcast and online media that alleged that the Commission has planned to conduct mocks polls in 193 constituencies across the country as a way of civic educating voters on how to cast ballots for 2014 Tripartite Elections. The reports further went on describe the plan to hold mock polls as ridiculous, meant to practice how to rig elections or tantamount to rigging. The Malawi Electoral Commission has noted this misinformation to the public with deep regret and wishes to inform all political parties and the general public that it has not planned to hold any mock polls as one way of civic educating the public ahead of the 2014 Tripartite Elections. Even the work plan and the budget for the 2014 elections, which the Commission has agreed with government, and the draft electoral calendar which the Commission shared with stakeholders, do not contain

any allocation for conducting even a mock poll in a single constituency let alone in 193 constituencies. The Commission is, therefore, urging all electoral stakeholders to doublecheck information with it before rushing to the media. The Commission has taken a consultative approach to the management of elections whereby it will be meeting with stakeholders to get their views on major electoral issues before implementation. So far the Commission has already held several meetings with electoral stakeholders including presidents of political parties represented in Parliament. At no time had the Commission expressed intentions to conduct mock polls. The Commission understands that the 2014 Tripartite Elections will need extensive civic and voter education and will come up with innovative and cost-effective means of reaching out to the public with electoral messages which will be done in a professional and non-partisan manner. The Commission will remain open to scrutiny and critique from all electoral stakeholders for its plans and operations and is urging all stakeholders to always contact it whenever they have ideas which can contribute to hold a credible election in 2014. The Commission is also urging all media practitioners to always crosscheck information with its Media and Public Relations Office before publishing or broadcasting as such would help avert circumstances whereby wrong and incorrect information is thrown into public realm.

Should you need further information or clarification on this issue, please contact the undersigned on 0999 274 304 or email smwafulirwa@mec.org.mw.

Sangwani Mwafulirwa Director, Media and Public Relations