The Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (CSEIF), an umbrella body for several local civil society organisations is calling for the intervention of Malawi president, Lazarus Chakwera and parliament to safeguard the rights of up to 50 thousand eligible voters who it says are at risk of being disenfranchised

According to CSEIF, disenfranchisement of potential voters could occur after an amendment of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act by parliament in 2022 that removed a mechanism that previously allowed voters who, because of official duty, could not vote at their original polling centres to be allowed to vote at centres where they have been assigned to work on voting day.

CSEIF has formally written to president Chakwera asking that “the President, in consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly should convene an emergency session of Parliament without delay to amend the law and safeguard the right to vote of all citizens.”

A CSEIF statement signed by the body’s Chair, Benedicto Kondowe, said as the law stands now, it could deny the right to vote to critical categories of citizens, including security personnel deployed to maintain law and order; polling staff assigned to manage the elections; accredited monitors and observers as well as members of the media covering the elections.

“It is estimated that this omission could disenfranchise approximately 50,000 eligible voters, a figure that is both alarming and unacceptable in a constitutional democracy,” a CSEIF statement says.

“This restrictive provision stands in direct conflict with Section 40 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi, which guarantees every citizen the right to participate fully in the political process, including the right to vote. Denying this right on the basis of deployment obligations is a violation of constitutional guarantees and international democratic standards,” the statement adds.

CSEIF said elections are the cornerstone of democracy and that it is unthinkable that those who sacrifice to ensure the process is undertaken, such as security personnel, electoral staff, monitors, observers, and journalists should be denied the very right they work to protect.

“Parliament must rise to the occasion and correct this legislative oversight now, not after the damage is done,” the CSEIF statement said.