By Evance Chisiano

Blantyre, October 18, Mana:  Minister of Information and Digitalization, Moses Kunkuyu has refuted claims by opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Alliance for Democracy (Aford) plus UTM that government intends to rig the 2025 General Elections through the awarding of a contract to an alleged dubious foreign firms with a checkered elections history.

Kunkuyu refuted the claims Friday afternoon during a press briefing held at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre where he responded to the allegations from the opposition parties which he described as baseless and wanting of facts.

He said it was surprising to hear the DPP and Aford question electoral procedures which their legislators passed in parliament to guide the country's electoral processes.

He said the it was also surprising that the opposition parties suspect Malawi Election Commission (MEC) Chairperson Justice, Anabel Mtalimanja’s bias when the MEC Chairperson was duly proposed by the judiciary and appointed by the appointing authority as is always the case with such appointments.

“One would doubt whether the opposition has taken a new way of thinking,” Kunkuyu said adding that the MEC Chairperson is always appointed in a transparent and legally accepted procedure saying ‘Government is set to conduct credible elections.’

On the opposition party's intentions to hold national wide demonstrations, Kunkuyu said it was unfortunate that they have resolved to do this.

“Dialogue remains a preferable approach. Dialogue is necessary to avoid unnecessary confrontation and chaos,” said Kunkuyu while at the same time acknowledging that everyone has right to express feelings.

He however said Malawians cannot be deceived, as they are able to see truth behind “the opposition's noise”

The minister also an opportunity to encourage all eligible Malawians to go and get registered as per the voter registration schedule that will take places in three phases