MEC holds boundary delimitation course

In preparation for the forthcoming boundary demarcation, the Malawi Electoral Commission has organised a five-day boundary delimitation course for commissioners and management in Mzuzu.

The course running from 23 to 27th November, 2020 in Mzuzu has been funded from the basket fund which is contributed by the UNDP, EU, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) UK, Irish Aid and USAID.

The course is carried out under the Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections (BRIDGE) curriculum.
Speaking during the opening, Commissioner Olivia Mchaju Liwewe said holding of the course was a critical step forward for as the Commission was planning to conduct a comprehensive demarcation exercise for constituency and ward boundaries across the country.
“The training we are having today is very important because it will give us the knowledge and the technical know-how on how to conduct the demarcation exercise.

“The facilitators will give us a tool box and show us how the tools are used. It is up to us to decide how to do the demarcation exercise in Malawi” she said

Commissioner Liwewe also emphasised on the need to manage public expectations and also to educate the stakeholders regarding the law and process of demarcation.
“We should start now by seizing every opportunity available to educate the public on the law guiding demarcation exercise and the principles guiding the process.

“If we have a good array of stakeholders that are knowledgeable about the process, that increases the chances of implementing a successful exercise,” she said.
Malawi last created new constituencies in 1998 when it considered only constituencies that were glaringly large. At the moment there are 193 constituencies.