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afrol.com / AENS, 5 December - Human rights activists and opposition parties called for the immediate resignation of Malawi's Electoral Commission chairman Judge James Kalaile on Tuesday after he tried to dismiss massive voter apathy as "nonsense". Kalaile said the turnout of only 14,2 percent of Malawi's 5,2 million voters in the country's first ever multi-party local government elections last month was better than most African countries. "Yes, only 14,2 percent of voters cast their ballots but it is nonsense to say this is a symptom of massive voter apathy. In fact, we did far better than most African countries and should be congratulated," said Kalaile. The November 21 polls were ruled largely free and fair, but the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA) notes that 131 or almost one quarter of the country's 860 wards were not contested. "But perhaps the biggest concern is the low voter turnout with only 14,2% of the over 5,2 million registered voters casting their ballots. Observers report that the elections have been characterised by lacklustre campaigns and low-key voter education," said EISA senior researcher David Pottie. President Bakili Muluzi's ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) won 610 of the contested seats, while the official parliamentary opposition and former ruling party, the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) only managed to garner 86 seats. The Alliance for Democracy (AFORD) won 120 seats. Pottie and other observers attribute the low voter turnout to public disillusionment and a loss of trust in elected politicians and the country's scandal hit government. "If Kalaile expects congratulations for this disaster, and refuses to acknowledge that there was apathy, then he is not the right man to manage Malawi's 2004 general elections," said Malawi Carer manager David Nungu. "We need an Electoral Commission that can identify fundamental problems and resolve them before they undermine our newfound democracy." Malawi Institute for Economic and Democratic Affairs (Midea) executive director Shyley Kondowe accused Kalaile of being "over-defensive" and urged the electoral commission to immediately review its voter education and publicity strategies."I agree that voters probably kept away from the polls to express their disappointment in the conduct, or failure, or the current crop of elected politicians," said Kondowe. "But, we need to ensure that this doesn't happen again." Association of Progressive Women executive director Reen Kachere insisted the low voter turnout was a vote of no-confidence in the MEC. "Voter apathy is an indication of no-confidence in the MEC and the current political system. These were the first ever multi-party local government elections, so when only 14,2 percent of voters bother to turn up all our alarm bells should be ringing," said Kachere. "Anyone dismissing these warning signs should seriously question their commitment to democracy." MCP publicity secretary James Chimera said the opposition first lodged its reservations about Kalaile
during Malawi's second democratic general elections in 1999 and felt there would have been a greater
voter turnout if the local government elections were properly managed. "The MCP was forced to go court
to protest the outcome of 1999 elections after we detected substantial irregularities. Even although we
were unsuccessful, we publicly warned that Kalaile's mismanagement was a danger to democracy. The
local election polls prove our concerns," said Chimera. By Brian Ligomeka,
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