Voter Apathy in Malawi’s Previous Elections “a serious threat to democracy”: Catholic Peace Commission ahead of Polls

Blantyre, 21 September, 2024 / 8:04 PM

Coordinators of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) in Malawi are concerned about voter apathy observed in the country’s “recent elections” amid preparations for the next general elections.

In a Thursday, September 19 statement, the Coordinators of the entity of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) share statistics from previous elections that demonstrate voter apathy and propose “strategic actions” to address the challenge ahead of the polls planned for September 2025.

“Malawi continues to grapple with voter apathy, a phenomenon that poses a serious threat to the democratic process,” CCJP Coordinators drawn from Malawi’s eight Episcopal Sees say, adding, “Historical data from recent elections illustrate this issue starkly.”

They cite data from the country’s 2019 general elections during which, they note, “6,859,570 individuals registered to vote, but only 5,105,983 cast their ballots, representing a turnout of 74.43 percent.” they say.

“The 2020 Fresh Presidential Election saw a further drop, with only 64.81 percent of registered voters participating,” Malawi’s CCJP Coordinators say, and continue, “By-elections in 2021 and 2022 recorded even lower figures, with voter turnouts of 43.5 percent and 41.59 percent, respectively.”

For them, “this trend is an indication that voter apathy is a direct threat to our democracy.”

They call upon eligible voters in the Southern African nation to register and emphasize “the role of voter registration in ensuring a healthy democratic process.”

“Voting transcends a mere right; it is a moral duty that must be upheld by every eligible Malawian,” the CCJP Coordinators say ahead of Malawi’s tripartite elections for the Head of State, Members of Parliament, and Ward Councillors.

Earlier in July, the Chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Justice Annabel Mtalimanja, said that the 16 September 2025 general elections will be conducted under the theme, “Promoting Democratic Leadership Through Your Vote”.

“The theme serves as a call to action for all eligible voters to participate in the upcoming General Election,” Ms. Mtalimanja said during the July 16 press conference at Bingu International Conference Centre (BICC) in Malawi’s capital city, Lilongwe.

By voting, she said, “Malawians have the power to shape their country’s leadership and governance, ensuring that their voices are heard, and their preferences are represented.”

MEC was scheduled to conduct fresh voter registration in three phases of two weeks each after the July 31 – August 16 demonstrations of the voter registration process using Election Management Devices (EMDs), she said.

The MEC Chairperson also announced that the Commission had vetted and accredited a total of 116 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to conduct voter education for the 16 September 2025 general elections.

In their September 19 statement, CCJP Coordinators in Malawi have outlined five “strategic actions” they say can help address the challenge of voter apathy. 

They propose the promotion of voter registration through citizen mobilization, participation of CSOs as well as community leaders, adding, “A concerted effort is required to ensure every eligible Malawian is registered and prepared to vote in the 2025 elections.”

Malawi’s CCJP Coordinators propose “nationwide” mass awareness campaigns aimed at highlighting “the significance of voting and the necessity of a National ID for registration”. They announce that their entity is to spearhead these campaigns across the country and “encourage collaboration with other organizations to engage citizens effectively in the electoral process”.

The CCJP officials propose that Malawians recognize the value of their “civic duties” as a way of combating voter apathy, and emphasize, “We must collectively commit to participating in large numbers to ensure our voices are heard”.

They also call for accountability on the part of the government and MEC, ensuring that “the voter registration process is accessible, transparent, and inclusive”. There is need to place “special focus ... on reaching remote and underserved areas to ensure no eligible voter is excluded”, they say.

Malawi’s CCJP Coordinators also call on the country’s National Registration Bureau (NRB) to address “technical challenges in the registration process” and caution, “People should not wait for a long time or returned to come the following day because of faulty equipment.”

“We urge all citizens to engage actively in the electoral process, starting with voter registration. By doing so, we can safeguard our rights, strengthen our democracy, and shape the future of our nation,” the Coordinators of the ECM entity say in their September 19 two-page statement.