For the first time in its history, the Republic of Malawi will be holding a Parliamentary, Presidential and Local Government elections at the same time.
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is gearing up to serve 7,537,549 registered voters in what is being dubbed as the historic 2014 Tripartite Elections. The total population is estimated at 17,377,468.
Political experts observe that voters would voting based on the candidates’ platforms about perennial issues such as poverty, poor educational system, rising incidence of HIV, and environmental exploitation.
Considered one of the world’s least-developed economies, and with a GDP based mainly in agriculture, Malawi depends heavily on foreign aid. It is a landlocked country in southeastern Africa, bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast and Mozambique to the south, southwest and southeast.
Incumbent President Joyce Banda (People’s Party), who came into power after President Bingu wa Mutharika died in 2012, is running against eleven other candidates including the three other leading contenders Peter Mutharika (Democratic Progressive Party), Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party), and Atupele Muluzi (United Democratic Front).
193 seats are at stake for the National Assembly.
Photo courtesy of http://en.africatime.com/malawi/articles/tripartite-election-launch-june-14
