According to MEC Chairperson Anabel Mtalimanja, the vacancies arose following the nullification of the 16 September 2025 parliamentary elections by the Supreme Court of Appeal. The court ordered the Commission to conduct fresh elections in the affected areas.
She said in accordance with Section 101(5) and (6) of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, 2023, the Commission will not register new voters or allow transfers.
“The Commission shall not accept nomination of new candidates, but shall allow nomination of a new candidate for a political party only if the party’s candidate in the nullified election becomes disqualified, dies, or is otherwise incapacitated before the fresh elections are conducted,” she said.
Mtalimanja added that there will be no registration of new voters, no transfers of voters, and no nomination of new candidates.
She further said all political parties and independent candidates that contested in the two constituencies may appoint up to two representatives at each center to monitor the inspection of the voters’ register.
The deadline for submitting names of representatives through respective MEC District Election Offices is 12 August 2026, for polling, political parties and independent candidates also have the right to appoint up to two representatives per polling station to monitor polling and the vote counting process.
The MEC Chairperson warned against the use of inflammatory language, saying it not only breaks the law but also infringes on people’s right to campaign freely and could incite political violence.
She said that the law prohibits and criminalizes the use of public resources for campaign purposes, including receiving any contribution or donation in cash or in kind from the State, any organ of the State, or any State-owned enterprise.
MEC is expected to announce the results by 2 October 2026 from the National Tally Center in Lilongwe.
