By The Forum

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has announced the calendar for parliamentary andlocal government by-elections.

MEC chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja said on Thursday that the by-elections will be held onMarch 17, 2026, in five constituencies and nine wards across the country.

Mtalimanja explained that the vacancies arose for several reasons, including the postponementof electoral processes by MEC.

“These include the death of duly nominated candidates sponsored by political parties,nullification of elections by the Malawi Electoral Commission, court orders and judgmentsnullifying elections or decisions of the Commission, as well as winning candidates assuminganother public office,” she said.

She added that the campaign period has already opened and will run until March 15, 2026,while submission of nomination papers will take place on February 21, 2026.

On candidate eligibility, Mtalimanja said new candidates are allowed to contest regardless ofwhether they stood in other constituencies during the September 16, 2025 general elections.However, candidates who contested in those elections will not be permitted to switch politicalparties, and political parties will not be allowed to change their candidates.

Mtalimanja also announced that MEC has allocated seven days for voter registration, fromJanuary 31 to February 6, 2026. She clarified that voters who registered during the September16, 2025 general elections will not be required to re-register, as their details are already in thesystem.

“Please note that there will be no voter transfers for people who registered in other areas andhave since moved to constituencies where by-elections will be held,” she said.

She further advised that registered voters who have lost their voter certificates should apply forreplacements at the centres where they originally registered.

The constituencies expected to hold parliamentary by-elections are Rumphi Central, BlantyreWest, Dedza Mtakataka, Lilongwe City Bwaila, and Nkhotakota Liwalazi.

Local government by-elections will take place in Lyembe Ward (Karonga Songwe), LuwingaWard (Mzuzu City North), Chilobwe Ward (Lilongwe Chilobwe), Muonekela Ward (ThyoloGoliati), Linthembwe Ward (Dowa Ngara), Msitu Ward (Mchinji South), Mikongo Ward (Mangochi NorthEast), ChandaWard(ZombaChikomwe), andChilungaWard(ZombaCityNorth).

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