African Elections Project Launched in Malawi

As Malawi?s elections come closer [May 19], the local business community has given presidential candidates some advice about private enterprise and how it can thrive. Business leaders say Malawians are eager for development, and local businesses do not want to waste time, or elect corrupt officials. Mike Mlombwa, the president of the…

In Malawi, a local think tank, the Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI), says it doubts assurances by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) that next week's presidential and parliamentary elections will be free and fair. The executive director of IPI, Rafik Hajat, says there have been problems with the electoral process ? for example, the cameras used for the photographs on voter identity cards. "As you know thousands of cameras didn't…

The May 19 presidential and parliamentary elections in Malawi will have more women candidates that ever. Statistics indicate that there are about 243 female candidates this year compared to 154 in 2004 elections. The increasing number is attributed to the moral and financial support the aspiring women candidates are getting from the organizations fighting for equal representation in decision-making positions. Donors are supporting the NGO Gender Coordination Network…

In Malawi, the political parties are going all-out in their campaigns to woo voters before the May 19 presidential and parliamentary elections. In fact, observers say the campaign has been marred by speeches full of hate and blame ? posing a challenge to those hoping for elections free of violence.Malawi's presidential candidates have signed a Code of Conduct with the Malawi Electoral Commission as a guideline to free and fair polls.  The agreement was reached in…