UK Supports Malawi’s 2025 Elections With K2.5 Billion

In an effort to ensure free,fair and credible 2025 general elections, the United Kingdom-UK has pumped in about K2.5 billion towards the Malawi Electoral Support Project-MESP.

UK has also asked government authorities to ensure they are taking necessary steps in preparing for the polls including addressing concerns on National Identity Cards.

We understands the funds will be in the United Nations Development Programme-UNDP Elections Basket Fund and will support the Malawi Electoral Commission-MEC.

British High Commissioner to Malawi, Fiona Ritchie says the ID system was critical during the administration of the 2019/2020 elections.

“We welcome the recent announcement that the expiry date for the national ID cards will be suspended until 1st January 2026, in line with the commitment made by President Chakwera in his State of the Nation Address, and look forward to continued government commitment to printing ID cards for new eligible voters,” said Ritchie.

Meanwhile, UNDP resident representative Shigeki Komatsubara says plans are currently underway to engage Civil Society Organizations to help reach out to the public with elections awareness messages.

He adds next month the basket fund has so helped MEC to develop the Elections Operations Plan 2023-2025 and the strategic plan 2023- 2028 whose launch are slated for next month.

Malawi goes to its next general elections in September 2025.