A political analyst has advised the Malawi Electoral Commission – MEC not to panic with the current voter registration apathy saying the situation will normalize soon.

Earnest Thindwa made the comment following reports of low voter registration turnout in Salima, Dedza and Kasungu in the first phase.

Thindwa said limited space for awareness on voter registration is one of the reasons that have contributed to the situation.

“Traditionally the flow of people to register is slow at the beginning of exercise that tend to improve by the passing of time so I think this is not the right time for MEC to panic,” Thindwa said.

“I want to believe that every Malawian is keen to register, it is just a question of time for campaign to inform people to go and register.”

Thindwa further asked Malawians to desist from the tendency of wanting to receive some incentives from politicians before registering.

“Previously we had governments attaching the Fertiliser Input Subsidy Programme- FISP to voter registration exercise, people were told that if they do not register they would perhaps not going to have access to fertiliser so such incentives were motivating people,” he said.

Thindwa went on to urge the MEC and other partners to do more campaign so as to improve the turn up of registrants in other areas.