Voter registration phase IV starts today

Source: Nation Malawi 

Phase four of the voters registration exercise begins today in all the three regions of the country, the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has announced.

This follows a three-day extension of the third phase due shortage of equipment in some constituencies.

Mec chairperson Anastasia Msosa said in a press statement on Friday that the fourth phase will run from today to November 2, 2008.

She said the exercise will cover all constituencies in Chitipa in the Northern Region while in the Central Region it will involve all constituencies in Ntchisi and Salima districts, plus Ntcheu North East and Ntcheu Bwanje North.

In the Southern Region, the registration will be done in all constituencies in Machinga, Balaka North, Mangochi Nkungulu, Mangochi Masongola, Mangochi North East, Thyolo North and Thyolo South West.

According to the statement, the centres will open from 8 am to 4 pm and the commission is urging all eligible people to register to vote in the May 19, 2009 elections.

Mec spokesperson Fegus Lipenga said the number of people who voted in the third phase will be announced after the commission finishes compiling data.

The first phase was extended for six days because of faulty equipment. Some constituencies also experienced delays and lack of equipment in the second phase but was not extended.

The first phase registered 1,159,594 people from all the three regions. In the second phase 781,559 people registered.