Malawi Social Media Campaign Continues Despite Election Campaign Period Has Ended

LILONGWE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 20th May, 2019 ) :Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) said it is helpless and can not control the continuing campaign on social media despite closure of the campaign period on Sunday.

Official campaign period for the May 21 elections closed 48 hours before polling starts on Tuesday at 06:00hrs local time, but the social media has been awash with campaign messages beyond that time.

MEC Chief Elections Officer, Sam Alfandika, confirmed Monday that the electoral body had observed the continuation of campaign on social media describing the situation as unfortunate.

"It is very unfortunate that we are still having people trying to campaign through social media yet campaign period ended on Sunday at 06:00; what is happening is unacceptable and illegal," said Alfandika.

The Chief Elections Officer described it as a difficult situation for the elections body to control social media saying all they can do is to appeal to political parties to tell their supporters to desist from using the social media to continue campaigning because it is illegal.

In his press release on the end of campaign period, the Chief elections Officer reminded stakeholders in the May 21 elections that it is violation of law to campaign outside the period adding that all those found guilty would face the due process of the law.

According to the statement, candidates, supporters or agents are not allowed to campaign, drive around hooting or with loud speakers playing campaign songs or any messages after the deadline.