By Wendy Mkandawire
Malawi has been placed on the global map for fighting election misinformation after the Malawi Electoral Commission’s (MEC) voter education campaign was named among the world’s 20 best public communication innovations.
The campaign, “Weaving the Web of Truth,” has been featured in the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Atlas of Innovation in Public Communication, a prestigious publication showcasing leading practices from across the globe.
Speaking in an interview, MEC Director of Media and Public Relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, said the recognition is a vote of confidence in Malawi’s approach to credible elections.
Mwafulirwa stated that the campaign was more than just a campaign, as it formed a framework to coordinate all public communication and voter education, ensuring citizens are provided with accurate, timely and reliable information to defeat rumours, misinformation and disinformation.
He explained that MEC deployed a multi-channel strategy combining radio, television, SMS, social media, community networks and partnerships with civil society organizations to reach voters in every corner of the country.
In total, more than 9,450 radio and television slots were used to deliver verified voter education ahead of the 16 September 2025 General Elections.
Mwafulirwa attributed the success to the collective effort of stakeholders, including the media, civil society, community leaders and development partners.
He said MEC will use the global recognition as motivation to further strengthen voter education and guarantee citizens’ access to accurate and timely election information in future polls.
