MEC Chairperson, Justice Dr. Jane Ansah, said this in Blantyre on Monday when the Commission launched a calendar of events for the polls.
“Please note that 2nd July 2020 is the 149th day from 3rd February 2020,” she said.
The Constitutional Court on 3rd February, 2020, ordered the fresh elections to be held in 150 days after nullifying the May 21, 2019 presidential elections.
The calendar of events that has been launched indicates that registration shall run from 4th April to 7th June 2020 in four phases of 14 days each with three days for transition.
“All voters who registered during the 2019 Tripartite Elections and the three by-elections held thereafter, need to go and confirm if their names appear in the register for their respective centers,” said Dr. Ansah.
According to the calendar, nominations of candidates shall take place on 23rd and 24th April, 2020 in Blantyre.
Dr. Ansah said the official campaign period “shall run from 2nd May to 30th June, 2020 at 6:00 am.
“The Commission expects the candidates and their followers to adhere to the code of conduct for political parties and candidates which the candidates would have signed for.
“The Commission shall be monitoring all campaign activities to ensure compliance,” said Dr. Ansah.
In the wake of Corona virus outbreak, Dr. Ansah said that “MEC will undertake measures to ensure the safety of its staff, both at headquarters and in the field, during the implementation of the electoral process.
“There will be masks, gloves, water and hand sanitizers for use in all places. There will be strict observance of distances between individuals as well as gatherings of less than 100 people during meetings.”
According to Dr. Ansah, the elections will cost about 34 billion Kwacha.
Malawians will elect their president because the constitutional court nullified the presidential elections that were held on May 21 last year on grounds that it was marred by systematic irregularities.
