NICE calls for electoral reforms despite credible polls
The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Public Trust has called for comprehensive electoral reforms, warning that persistent structural weaknesses continue to undermine democratic accountability in Malawi, despite the credibility of the September 16, 2025 General Election.
The call follows the release of NICE’s final long-term election observation report, which was presented to the media in Lilongwe on Tuesday.The report, compiled from a nationwide deployment of 6,840 accredited observers supported by technology-based monitoring, found that the elections were largely peaceful, competitive and credible.
Speaking during the dissemination, NICE Executive Director Grey Kalindekafe said the election outcome reflected the will of the electorate and reaffirmed elections as the foundation of Malawi’s representative democracy.He said: “The election reflected the will of Malawian voters and reaffirmed elections as the foundation of our representative democracy, but serious structural challenges persist.”
Kalindekafe said the credibility of the polls should not obscure long-standing weaknesses in the political system, including weak internal party democracy and undemocratic primary elections.He said: “While we acknowledge important reforms introduced in recent years, legal and procedural changes alone are not sufficient to address the systemic problems that continue to affect the quality of representation.”
The report identifies widespread political handouts, vote buying, and the growing influence of money in politics as key factors that undermined fair competition.The report also highlights voter disengagement and misinformation, which NICE says contributed to declining public trust in the democratic process.
According to the report, disputes during party primaries led to a surge in independent candidates, with 71 parliamentary seats won by independents.Despite the challenges, Kalindekafe commended the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and other stakeholders for their professional conduct during polling, results management and conflict resolution.
“As NICE, we are calling for stricter regulation of political parties and campaign financing, enhanced inclusion of women, youth and persons with disabilities and sustained civic education to strengthen Malawi’s democracy,” Kalindekafe added.