afrol News, 18 August - Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) today began massive drive on a slow start, to register its seven million citizens eligible voters into voters' roll, prior to presidential and parliamentary elections to be held in May next year.

"Registration has started although process to register is a bit slow," Fegus Lipenga, spokesperson of Malawi Electoral Commission said.

Dozens of people started queuing when registration centres opened at 8 am local time in Blantyre, commercial capital.

Head of MEC, Anastanzia Msosa said electoral body had been ready for four months registration exercise, which will be conducted in phases.

"We are ready and all is now set for start today, for fresh and phased registration of between five to seven million voters," Mrs Msosa said.

"This is a fresh registration and all Malawian citizens who are 18 and above and those that on 19 May, shall have attained age of 18 are eligible to register," she told media.

She said electoral body discovered that voters' roll for 2004 general elections "had a lot of problems and the more we attempted to clean, more problems arose."

Mrs Msosa said commission would try to come up with "a credible voters roll" to be continuously used and updated for future polls.

She said, "this time around we want to come up with a credible voters roll which we can build on for future."

The registration exercise will be in four selected districts and 28 voter districts will be completed by November 29.

President Bingu Mutharika faces a strong challenge from his predecessor Bakili Muluzi who propelled him to power. Mr Muluzi ruled Malawi from 1994 10 2004 serving two consecutive five year terms.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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