MEC says it has been provided with K3.5 billion only of the K10 billion requested for voter registration.

Speaking after appearing before Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs Wednesday, Chief Elections Officer Sam Alfandika said with limited funds, the exercise will not be effective.

“We requested for K10 billion for the registration exercise alone but we got K3.5 billion leaving us with a deficit. It is our prayer that the remaining amount will be dispatched and that our work will not be affected” said Alfandika.

On the corona virus threat, Alfandika said the commission has put in place measures to ensure that staff and registrants in the polls are not exposed to threat.

Chairperson of Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament, Kezzie Msukwa says the committee finds the electoral calendar released by MEC wanting.

"As a committee we feel the court orders are being adhered to selectively. In the calendar by MEC, there are a lot of loopholes.

"On the deficit for registration exercise, we hope that the remaining amount will be given to MEC and registration process will be carried out smoothly,” said Msukwa.

Meanwhile, the MEC CEO says MEC chairperson Justice Jane Ansah has written President Peter Mutharika notifying him that contracts for all commissioners will expire at the end of June.