By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, April 4, Mana: A districting exercise by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), in the run up to the September 16, 2025 general elections, has resulted in the number of constituencies increasing from 193 to 229 and that of wards from 462 to 509.

This increase is expected to heighten the inevitability of having many by-elections after September 16, 2025 to fill the vacancies likely to be created in the post general elections period – translating to more millions of money being spent.

Despite the huge investments being made into the by-elections by government and partners, there are concerning trends regarding voter participation in the polls both at local and constituency levels.

Voter turnout in all recent by-elections has hovered between 17 percent and 40 percent out of 30 recent by-elections between 2015 and 2024.

The turnout was above 50 percent only in six by-elections.

“The problem dates back to the time that we did not seem, as a nation, to value the work of councilors,” says Gray Kalindekafe, Executive Director for National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust, a public body entrusted with the provision of voter and civic education.

“We have moved at an embarrassing speed in embracing the spirit of the local authorities and their appropriate structures, including councilors who are so pivotal to local government operations,” he says.

In the most recent by-elections in Karonga District for example, at least 70 percent of the eligible voters in Kaporo and Chilanga Wards did not turn out to vote while in Rukuru Ward, whose catchment is largely Karonga Town, 76 percent of the eligible voters shunned the polls.

Similarly, in the Mtiya Ward by-elections in Zomba last year, a record 82.8 percent did not vote whereas in Dedza Central Constituency, turnout was at 33.3 percent.

Kalindekafe says while the Local Government Act came into effect in 1998 followed by all the supporting guidelines paving way for the local government elections in 2000, participation in local by-elections has been all worrying.

“It quickly became clear that decentralization faced many challenges, including a lack of state legitimacy and serious financial constraints. Due to poor public awareness on the importance of councilors, the voter turnout in 2000 was a miserable 14 percent. 

“Then there was a gap between 2005 and 2014 which further watered down the importance of councilors,” he observes.

Kalindekafe also attributes voter apathy in by-elections to allegations of handouts, unfulfilled campaign promises by candidates, candidates moving away from rural areas after winning elections and undemocratic intra-party politics.

He adds: “Other reasons could be electoral violence and uninspiring campaigns. The perception that the electoral process is susceptible to violence contributes to voter disengagement.

“But we should be mindful that legitimacy of elected officials depends on active participation of the electorate. Low voter turnout undermines the representative nature of democracy.”

Governance experts agree that low voter turnout weakens the mandate of the elected leaders who then lack the broad-based support needed to make informed decisions on behalf of their constituents.

Mzuzu University governance expert Chrispin Mphande says that despite that people shun by-elections, there is no alternative to holding the polls as they are a constitutional requirement.

“It’s a constitutional requirement that the people must be represented at council level so it’s necessary to have the councilors. That people shun the elections could be that they are frustrated with what is happening on the ground such that they feel there is no benefit in voting.

“Both MEC and political parties should understand the people’s feelings about governance structures on the ground. They should ensure that people are prepared through intensive voter awareness,” said Mphande.

Mphande says political players must also depart from just making promises but must provide evidence based campaign on how they will improve the voters’ wellbeing.

“If we want many voters to participate in an election, those seeking office must be clear enough on how they will change people's lives. The formulas must be clear to get people’s interest. It is not enough just to make a promise of change,” he says.

Political analyst Wonderful Mkhuche says by-elections must be taken seriously because they are the only legitimate means to put people in positions and make public affairs move.

“We do not have any other alternative than having the elections. But it seems politics is no longer answering people’s problems. Some people who are put in the positions abuse power to their gain, leaving the masses helpless.

“In such circumstances, it is hard for people to see any sense in an election as nothing changes in their lives,” he says.

Mkhuche says there must be huge investments made in civic education on the importance of voting and that public servants must make sure they use their positions to uplift people’s lives.

“Our voting procedures also have to change. Sometimes people cannot afford to leave their business or work places to go and vote.

“We need to explore options like online and mobile phone voting to make sure people can vote from the comfort of their places. Through this, we will increase the number of people who participate in an election,” he argues.

Findings of a 2006 study by Centre for Multiparty Democracy established strong links between voter apathy and failure of successful candidates to deliver campaign promises.

However, as MEC Chairperson Justice Chifundo Kachale pointed out in March 2021, there is need for a fresh study to help understand why people shun by-elections.

Said Kachale then: “This [voter apathy] has been common during by-elections but we are of the view that something can be done to stop and reverse this trend.

“At the moment the Commission will not speculate the reasons but we believe a thorough study involving the voters would help to identify interventions that can help to address and reverse this trend.”

MEC’s Director of Media and Public Relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, says it is the responsibility of all electoral stakeholders to join hands in mobilizing registered voters to go and vote because that is the ultimate goal of registering as a voter.

“Voting is voluntary in Malawi unlike in other countries like Australia where it is compulsory. Therefore, it means more work for the electoral stakeholders to educate and mobilize the registered voters to show up for voting.

“The Commission wants everyone who registered to come for voting. That is why it plans for everyone. If voters do not show up, it means loss of resources and money spent on printing ballot papers that are not used,” he says.

Mwafulirwa says MEC also hires adequate staff commensurate with the number of registered voters, but this too, becomes a ‘waste’ when people shun polls.

He adds: “The Commission does its best to mobilize the public. Meetings are held with various stakeholders and the public with the aim of reaching out to everyone. There are also messages placed on the radio and television stations mobilizing people to turn out in large numbers.

“Political parties need votes and it is their responsibility also to mobilize their members and everyone to vote. It is sometimes a paradox that campaign rallies ahead of a by-election are well patronized but come polling day, few people show up.”

He says as much as parties want to sell their candidates and manifestos, they should also remember that it is the votes that count.

“Therefore they should not just be gratified that people showed up at their campaign rallies. They should also go a step further too vividly mobilize them to vote.

“The ultimate love a member can have for a political party or a candidate is to vote for their candidate. If people do not show up for voting, political parties should start demanding explanations and accountability from their supporters,” he says.