The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says all participants in the by-election slated for March 30, will be provided with free face masks, courtesy of the Presidential Taskforce on Covid-19.

According to MEC Chief Elections Officer Sam Alfandika, the Taskforce has received 320, 000 face masks from the Department for Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA).

“Despite this arrangement, the Commission is still encouraging electoral stakeholders who have their own masks to wear them when going for voting,” said Alfandika in a statement on Wednesday.

However, Alfandika was quick to warn candidates and political parties’ representatives against wearing PPEs that are branded with party colours, symbols and insignia.

“Such materials will not be allowed at a polling station,” he said.

There are 290,495 registered voters and according to Alfandika, MEC will employ about 2,500 temporary staff for the polling exercise in all the nine constituencies and two wards.