The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has deployed 28 election observers to Malawi ahead of tripartite elections slated for May 21.
The observers were invited by the electoral commission in Malawi to participate in election monitoring.
The union also becomes the first international body to deploy observers to the southern Africa nation for the polls.
On polling day, they will observe the opening of polling stations and assess the electoral environment in which the exercise will be held.
This will be in addition to implementation of the voting procedures, poll legislation adherence including the right to vote and the right to a secret ballot.
EU EOM Deputy Chief Observer, Mark Stevens, said in Blantyre, Malawi’s commercial capital, that the team’s presence was to ensure election credibility.
EU observers had once monitored the 2004, 2009 and 2014 elections in Malawi.
General elections will be held to choose the President, National Assembly and Local Government councilors.
A total of ten candidates registered to contest the elections including incumbent President Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) who will seek second term in office.
Former Vice-President, Saulos Chilima, will also contest the election as the United
Transformation Movement (UTM) candidate, having left the DPP in 2018.
Other candidates include Lazarus Chakwera (Malawi Congress Party) and Atupele Muluzi (United Democratic Front).
Former President Joyce Banda (People’s Party) had originally planned to run for the presidency, but withdrew her candidacy two months before the election and later endorsed opposition candidate, Chakwera.
Ras Chikomeni Chirwa was disqualified due to lack of funds and failing to collect enough signatures.
