Concerns Election Preparations In Malawi Will Be Impacted By Cyclone Idai Flooding

As Malawi prepares to head to the polls later this month, many candidates and voters are concerned that flooding from March’s catastrophic cyclone Idai are going to negatively impact the vote.

Many registered voters are living in evacuation camps and have lost their registration certificates in floodwaters, whilst part members are claiming they are unable to get their message and manifesto to would be voters.

Having no voter certificate means having to explain to officials who then look up the citizen to confirm identity before allowing them to vote, many believe this extra step will put people off voting.

90,000 households were displaced by Cyclone Idai and 60 people tragically lost their lives.

Malawi’s Electoral Commission says banning campaign rallies at evacuation camps deprives the flood survivors of being informed voters.

Sam Alufandika is the commission’s Chief Elections Officer.

“As Malawi Electoral Commission we have not received this [complaint] officially but we will do our own investigation to find out why they are not allowed to go to the camps. Because everybody is supposed to be reached out. They have to know what these candidates are offering for them to have an informed choice on polling day and those who are affected by floods cannot be left out,” he said.

Malawi’s government has announced it will start closing the evacuation camps on May 14, just one week before elections.