Government through its Chief secretary Lloyd Muhara has warned civil servants of working as party monitors in the fresh presidential elections slated for Tuesday.

Muhara the warning via a press statement in which he claimed that some government workers have been approached by political parties to work for them as monitors.

According to Muhara, Public Service Act and the Malawi Public Service Regulations do not allow civil servants to take part in activities that are political in nature.

“I wish to advise all civil servants not to allow political parties to use them as monitors in this coming election. The public service shall always be apolitical to maintain its integrity. Any action contrary to this advice shall attract sterner disciplinary measures to the suspected officers as provided for in the regulations,” said Muhara.

He then advised controlling officers in government ministries and departments to report any misconduct.

The warning follows reports that opposition parties have recruited civil servants as monitors for the Tuesday elections.

In the polls, President Peter Mutharika of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party is facing Lazarus Chakwera of the Tonse Alliance and Peter Kuwani of Mbakuwaku.