WOLREC team in election observation mission

As one of the accredited observers in today’s historic General Election, WOLREC members of staff were out in full force, embarking on an observation mission across the country.

Executive Director, Maggie Kathewera Banda, joined the teams on the ground, personally observing the casting of votes in Blantyre, Balaka and Dedza.

This gave the staff a first-hand appreciation of how citizens are exercising their democratic right, as well as the challenges and successes witnessed at different polling centres.

Throughout the day, the staff captured moments that reflected both the spirit of participation and the commitment of Malawians to strengthening democracy.

Observing one of the polling centres in Blantyre at Lunzu Primary School, Kathewera Banda expressed satisfaction with women turning out to vote in large numbers but raised concerns about the lack of proper prioritization for those with special needs.

“At Lunzu Primary School, voting was orderly, and women have come out in impressive numbers. However, MEC ushers have not been proactive in assisting women with babies. Some women were queuing in the sun, and I had to alert MEC support staff to intervene and prioritize those requiring special assistance,” she said.

Voting started at 6 AM and closed at 4 PM, with extensions granted to polling centres that opened late due to other challenges.