Human Rights Defenders Coalition, HRDC together with the National Advocacy Platform NAP says it is not necessary for the Malawi Electoral Commission MEC to stop the voter registration exercise currently underway as this may affect next year’s elections.

According to NAP chairperson Benedicto Kondowe, opposition parties that are calling for the stop to the exercise should have a dialogue with MEC rather than stopping the exercise which is for the good of the citizens of Malawi.

Kondowe has however asked MEC and the National Registration Bureau to give Malawians frequent updates on the progress of the voter registration exercise.

Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party DPP, spokesperson Shadrick Namalomba, said they will continue with their decision as opposition political parties to hold demonstrations at the offices of the Malawi Electoral Commission, as one way of forcing the chairperson Annabel Mtalimanja and the director for NRB to step aside as they are connected to Malawi congress Party, MCP.

Namalomba further said that they still want the voter registration exercise to be stopped.