By Memory Chatonda

Blantyre, January 18, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has earmarked K7 billion to successfully conduct a supplementary voter registration exercise in 1,974 centres across the country.

Speaking during a press briefing in Blantyre, MEC Chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja said the funds are sufficient to conduct the exercise which is crucial for a smooth transition between the electoral process stages.

She said: “The initial voter registration exercise had 6,039 centres which registered about 7,162,127 from the projected 10,957,490. This supplementary voter registration has 1,974 centres and we anticipate registering at least 271,854 voters so that they can exercise their constitutional right to cast their vote during the polling date.

“So far, the commission has set aside K7 billion to support the exercise ahead of the September 16 general elections.”

Mtalimanja advised electoral stakeholders to take full responsibility for disseminating information to the public so that those who are eligible to register during the exercise can get registered.

According to Mtalimanja, the centres will be open from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

She, therefore, encouraged voters to present themselves at convenient times.

“These centres have been established where people can easily go and register because we want every eligible voter to participate,” she said.

The first phase of the voter registration will run from January 21 to 22 targeting Mzimba, Lilongwe, Lilongwe City, Mangochi Municipality, Mangochi, Mwanza, Chikwawa and Nsanje.

The second phase which will run from January 27 to 28, 2024 targets Nkhatabay, Rumphi, Likoma, Kasungu, Kasungu Municipality, Dowa, Mchinji, Ntcheu, Zomba, Zomba City, Blantyre, Blantyre City, Nthyolo and Luncheza.

While the third phase, which starts from February 2 to February 3, covers Chitipa, Karonga, Karonga Town, Mzuzu City, Nkhotakota, Ntchisi, Salima, Dedza, Balaka, Machinga, Chiradzulu, Neno and Mulanje.