Commissioner M’madi said this in an interview on Saturday at Dedza Teachers Training Centre TDC on the side line of the refresher training for registration supervisors and clerks on voter registration for Bembeke ward.
According to M’madi the November by-elections is an opportunity for the commission to demonstrate to all stakeholders MEC’s determination and zeal to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
“The forthcoming by election is going to be the first big activity to be conducted by us new commissioners and we are determined to follow all the electoral processes in a professional manner,” he said.
Speaking about the training for registration staff which he was the guest of honor, the Commissioner said it was organized with the aim of imparting knowledge and skill to the participants for them to perform their duties professionally during the registration period.
M’madi then warned the participants that MEC will not hesitate to dismiss anyone who will be caught engaging in any malpractice that undermines the integrity of the commission.
“We do not want to take things for granted, in this by election some aspect of electoral processes will be done differently from the previous ones, so do not just get tempted to do things As they were done during the tripartite elections,” said the commissioner M’madi adding that they must be courteous and polite to all people who will come for verification and registration.
Voter Registration and verification will start next week on 12 to 16 October starting from 8 in the morning and closing at 4 in the afternoon.
According to MEC during the by-elections transfers are not allowed and MEC will only register those who have attained the age of 18 after May 20, 2014 tripartite elections or those that will attain the voting age on 1 November.
Bembeke ward which is in Dedza south constituency has 30 registration centers. Apart from Bembeke ward, November by elections will also take place in Mchinji west constituency, Bunda and Kaliyeka wads in Lilongwe and Sadzi ward in Kasungu district.
