Tonse Alliance concerned by reports indicating very low voter turnout in Southern, Western and North-Western Provinces

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE13 AUGUST 2026 I wish to address the nation, in my capacity as Secretary General and on behalf of the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, regarding reports we are receiving concerning voter turnout in Southern, Western and North-Western Provinces. We are deeply concerned by reports indicating very low voter turnout at a number of polling […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
13 AUGUST 2026

I wish to address the nation, in my capacity as Secretary General and on behalf of the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, regarding reports we are receiving concerning voter turnout in Southern, Western and North-Western Provinces.

We are deeply concerned by reports indicating very low voter turnout at a number of polling stations in these three provinces. Information reaching us suggests that some polling stations have recorded very few voters, while there are reports of some stations having had periods in which virtually no voters were presenting themselves to cast their ballots.

This situation is particularly concerning because Southern, Western and North-Western Provinces were widely expected to record strong voter participation in this election. The reports of low turnout therefore deserve serious attention from all stakeholders in the electoral process.

As the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance, we believe that voter turnout is an important part of assessing the conduct and credibility of an election. Significant and unexpected turnout patterns, particularly where they depart sharply from expectations, must therefore be properly documented and scrutinised.

We accordingly call upon local and international election observers, political parties, civil society organisations and other electoral stakeholders to take particular note of the turnout being recorded across Southern, Western and North-Western Provinces.

We further urge polling agents and monitors across the country to carefully record the number of voters who have cast their ballots at their respective polling stations and to preserve all official records relating to turnout.

At this stage, we are not drawing conclusions about the reasons for the reported low turnout. However, the magnitude of the reports reaching us warrants attention, documentation and, where necessary, verification against the official figures recorded at polling stations.

The Tonse Pamodzi Alliance will continue monitoring the situation across the country and calls upon all electoral stakeholders to remain vigilant, peaceful and committed to protecting the integrity of the electoral process.

SIGNED

Celestine Mambula Mukandila
Secretary General
Tonse Pamodzi Alliance