By Shaffie Bakali

Mangochi, July 31, Mana: Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says media practitioners have a critical role of raising awareness on new electoral laws to the general public as new guidelines for electoral processes.

The new electoral laws; Constitution (amendment) Act, Electoral (amendment) Act and Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections act, all become in effect in 2023.

Speaking to Mangochi-based journalists on Saturday, MEC chairman of Research, Evaluation and Monitoring committee who is also member of Media, Civic and Voter Education, Commissioner Dr Emmanuel Fabiano said journalists are key players in educating the public about the newly amended electoral laws.

"Journalists are very close to people and we have imparted knowledge in them so that the knowledge reaches the public through programs and articles of their respective radio stations and newspapers," Fabiano said.

The Commissioner also challenged journalists in the country to maintain fairness, accuracy and objectivity when reporting matters related to elections.

In his remarks, one of the participants, District Information Officer for Mangochi, Bishop Witmos commended MEC for the training, saying that it was an eye opener.

Witmos therefore assured MEC that the media in Mangochi will work collaboratively with the commission in disseminating electoral information and educating the public to ensure that communities are able to make informed decisions.

Currently the commission is in preparation for by-elections of councilor for Mwasa ward in Mangochi Central Constituency, and Mtiya ward in Zomba Central Constituency, scheduled to take place on 26 of September this year.

One of the amendments made to the Constitution is in section 36 (2) where by-elections will be held within 30 days from the day that the position became vacant and no by-elections within 12 months to the general elections.

On the other hand, Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections act classifies defamation or downplaying as not fair form of campaign and thus subject to court sanctions while fine for obstructing electoral processes is K10 million or in default serve five years in jail.

These new guidelines were approved in parliament in December of 2022 and became effective on June 15, this year.