By Tamala Kamanga

Dowa, May 23, Mana: An inspection exercise for the verification of names in the voter’s registry, which MEC conducted in Dowa district, has shown a low turnout for the verification of names in the voter’s registry.

Speaking on Friday after an inspection exercise at five verification centres, MEC’s Commissioner, Dr. Emmanuel Fabiano attributed the low turnout to mobile verification, which MEC established to ease the verification process.

"Out of the five centres we visited, only one centre had 72 people verifying their names, despite thousands of people registering to vote in the district.

"A lot of people are verifying on phone, and I believe that is the major factor in the low turnout, this way is easier than physically going to verification centres," he said.

However, Fabiano urged political leaders to take a major role in encouraging people to go for verification, to enable them to choose their preferred leaders in the forthcoming elections.

One of the potential voters who on the day, Jailos Amos, said the mobile platform that MEC has established has allowed many people to verify their names through their phones.

"The coming of this kind of technology has made things simpler. You all know that we are in tobacco season, and many people here are farmers, hence they are finding it difficult to go to the centres, and are verifying through phone," said Amos.

In Dowa district, the verification of names in the voter’s registry commenced on 21 May and ended on 23 May 2025.