The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) says it has made special arrangements to ensure that polling for the March 30 by-elections will not be affected by rainfall. 

According to MEC`s Director for Media and Public Relations Sangwani Mwafulirwa, the Commission will shift polling process into classrooms and tents.

“We are encouraging all registered voters that should it rain on polling day, and they are supposed to go for voting, they should still make it to the polling station, polling will not be stopped because of rains.

“Should it be raining on this day, we are going to shift the polling stations to inside the classrooms, for some places where there are no shelters, the Commission is going to provide tents which are going to be used,” said Mwafulirwa.

He reminded aspiring candidates and political parties that that official campaign period ends on 28 March 2021.

“We are reminding everyone that the official campaign period ends on 28 March at 6am, so everyone should wind up their activities before this time.

“Should anybody, especially candidates and political parties wish to distribute Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to their supporters, they should do so before the end of the campaign period, we will not tolerate somebody going around distributing PPEs when the campaign period is over,” said Mwafulirwa.

MEC has also advised that ballot papers for the 30 March 2021 by-elections will arrive at Kamuzu International Airport (KIA) in Lilongwe on Friday, 26 March, 2021 at 16:05pm on Emirates flight number EK9318.

The ballot papers will be transported to the Constituency and Ward Nerve Centres the same day.