News / Africa
Malawi still to return ZEC election material
11 May 2015 at 08:44hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is still waiting for the return of its election material it borrowed the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) almost a year ago.
However, the bulk of the material was gutted by fire.
MEC borrowed 8 452 gas cylinders and 9 500 gas lamps and tents from Zimbabwe.
It was alleged that 933 lamps, 257 gas cylinders, 13 tent-roofs and 55 tent sides borrowed from ZEC, were lost in the fire.
However, MEC was still to communicate officially to ZEC about the incident and how much material was damaged.
ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said ZEC has to date not received any written or official communication from the Malawi Electoral Commission confirming that part of its loaned equipment was burnt in a fire during the May Tripartite elections.
"MEC had taken out insurance over the loaned equipment and in the event that the equipment was indeed burnt in the fire and MEC is called upon to make good the loss, ZEC is confident that MEC will do so," said Makarau.
This is despite the fact that the incident was covered extensively by the Malawian media.
According to Nyasa Times at the time, MEC's chief elections officer Willie Kalonga confirmed that 1 500 ballot boxes had been destroyed along with several gas cylinders and lamps.
The organisation decided to borrow material from ZEC because they had been receiving complaints from stakeholders that lighting system used in polling stations was poor and would give room for manipulation of votes.
The cause of the fire was never established although allegations were thrown around that it was the work of arson.
This was more so considering that some disputed votes were kept in that particular warehouse, raising suspicion that it was not an accident.
However, the bulk of the material was gutted by fire.
MEC borrowed 8 452 gas cylinders and 9 500 gas lamps and tents from Zimbabwe.
It was alleged that 933 lamps, 257 gas cylinders, 13 tent-roofs and 55 tent sides borrowed from ZEC, were lost in the fire.
However, MEC was still to communicate officially to ZEC about the incident and how much material was damaged.
ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said ZEC has to date not received any written or official communication from the Malawi Electoral Commission confirming that part of its loaned equipment was burnt in a fire during the May Tripartite elections.
This is despite the fact that the incident was covered extensively by the Malawian media.
According to Nyasa Times at the time, MEC's chief elections officer Willie Kalonga confirmed that 1 500 ballot boxes had been destroyed along with several gas cylinders and lamps.
The organisation decided to borrow material from ZEC because they had been receiving complaints from stakeholders that lighting system used in polling stations was poor and would give room for manipulation of votes.
The cause of the fire was never established although allegations were thrown around that it was the work of arson.
This was more so considering that some disputed votes were kept in that particular warehouse, raising suspicion that it was not an accident.
Source - Nyasa Times
