The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has asked political parties and other stakeholders to embrace unity as the electoral body has on Tuesday commenced processing voter transfers.

MEC spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa told Zodiak that the exercise, which will be conducted in three phases, demands physical presence of the person requiring transfer to a new voting centre.

Mwafulirwa said the voter transfer window will provide an opportunity to all registered voters to process transfers ahead of the 16 September elections.

One of the electoral stakeholders, Chisankho Watch, through its board chairperson Bishop Gilford Matonga has challenged MEC to promote a fair and credible verification process.

"We believe this is the crucial period in as far as 16th September general elections are concerned and we are calling upon political parties and other stakeholders to preach messages of unity," Matonga added.

The transfer exercise will run from 25th February 2025 to 15th March 2025. Some of the districts that will be covered in the first phase are Chitipa, Karonga, Nkhotakota, Phalombe, Chiradzulu and Mulanje.