The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on Tuesday launched the official campaign period for the May 21, 2019 tripartite elections with a call to all political parties to observe electoral laws during the period.

The period runs from March 19 and will end at 6 AM on May 19, 2019.

Chairperson for the commission Jane Ansah launched the campaign in Lilongwe under the theme “Consolidating democracy through peaceful campaign”.

Ansah called on the parties to conduct issue based campaign rather than castigating and intimidating their political opponents.

She cited female candidates as victims of intimidation and violence.

“The Commission and the nation would like to see our female candidates been accorded an equal opportunity to campaign freely during this period without fear of intimidation and violence.”

Ansah urged all women who will experience incidents of intimidation and foul language to immediately report to the Police and MEC for the law to take its course.

She also condemned the behavior of political parties and candidates who abuse the youth by sponsoring them to indulge in violence and disrupt political rallies.

“The youths have a noble role to play in the Republic as leaders and must never be abused,” Ansah said.

The chairperson also asked the Malawi Police Service to operate above partisan interest and ensure that are perpetrators of violence are brought to book.

“It is also an honest expectation of every citizen that the Police will ensure that those who commit electoral offences are brought to book, irrespective of whether they are from the ruling party.”