Information sourced by this publication indicates that National Registration Bureau (NRB) is yet to fully comply with a High Court of Malawi order to facilitate national identity card (ID) registration for eligible voters.
The court recently ordered NRB to register eligible voters who turn up at Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) voter registration centres without national IDs.
But a visit to one of the registration centres found at South Lunzu Primary School in Machinjiri, faceofmalawi reporter found one of the prospect voter identified as James Bayson, who is seeking to have his ID processed for the first time being referred to NRB head office in Blantyre.
“Ndabwela pano nthawi yamasana koma ndauzidwa kuti ndikalembese kaye cha unzika ku office ya NRB ku Blantyre komwe ndikulikulu lawo. Omwe akuthandiza pano ndiokhao omwe ma ID awo anasowa kapena omwe anapanga expire,” said Bayson.
To prove this, this reporter posed as one of the prospective voters who is yet to have his ID proceed and met with one of the MEC officials who referred him to NRB offices in Blantyre.
“We are only assisting those people who lost their IDs and those people who’s IDs expired,” said the official while walking away.
Another prospective voter identified as Edward Banda was left hopeless after failing to secure registration forms at the centre.
“Zulo ndinalipano ndipo ndinauzidwa kuti ma form olembesela zaunzika atha lero ndakhalanso pano siku lonse koma ndikuuzidwa zomwezo kuti ma form palibe ndipo zokuti ndilembesa pano zayamba kukaikisa chifukwa ndauzidwa kuti mawa akuseka,” said Banda.
Banda then appealed to MEC to consider extending the registration exercise.
Faceofmalawi reporter proceeded to Nkolokoti registration centre where the situation was similar to that of South Lunzu Primary School where only prospective voters with missing ID’s were the one being allowed to register.
Agnes James hailed MEC for the smooth exercise.
“I should be honest with you the registration exercise is going on well here. May be the only challenge that I have noticed is that new ID seekers are being referred to NRB offices in Blantyre but the those with missing IDs are being assisted,” said James.
One of the MEC officials who opted for anonymity said the only registered the challenges in the first three days of the registration exercise of the second phase.
“The second phase started without the presence of NRB officials but now we are working hand in hand with NRB officials,” she said.
Speaking during Times-talk program aired on Thursday NRB Principal Secretary Mphatso Sambo said the bureau moving in to rectify all challenges encountered in first phase of the registration exercise.
MEC is scheduled to conclude the second phase of the registration exercise on Friday, November 22, 2024.
