MEC Conducts Trainer of Trainers Workshop Ahead of Candidate Nominations

The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has commenced a Trainer of Trainers (ToT) workshop in Lilongwe aimed at preparing key personnel for the upcoming candidate nomination process for the 2025 General Election.

The workshop has brought together officers from the Electoral Services, ICT, Legal, and Security departments to enhance their knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing the nomination of candidates’ system, including its processes and procedures.

Speaking during the opening session, MEC Director of Electoral Services, Mr. Hastings Bota, underscored the importance of the workshop, particularly in preparing trainers who will cascade knowledge to the Election Management Device (EMD) operators. These operators will be deployed to Constituency Tally Centres across the country.

“It is your responsibility as trainers to understand every step of the process—from the payment of nomination fees and collection of forms to pre-examination, submission, verification, and approval—so that you can guide others with clarity,” Bota emphasized.

In line with Malawi’s electoral laws, only duly nominated candidates are eligible to appear on the ballot. As such, the nomination process must be handled with the highest standards of accuracy, transparency, and integrity.

To support this, MEC is rolling out an improved Nomination Management System designed to ensure that all nomination forms are properly captured and verified. The new system also guarantees traceability, auditability, and accountability, with all documentation securely handled and archived.

The training workshop is a critical step in ensuring a credible nomination process ahead of the elections.