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• Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group: Malawi Parliamentary and Presidential Election 20 May 2004

Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group: Malawi Parliamentary and Presidential Election 20 May 2004

10 June 2004

Download: The Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group: Malawi Parliamentary and Presidential Election 20 May 2004

Voters Malawi Elections 20 May 2004

COG chair on voting day

Deployment of COG observers

On 15 March 2004 the Malawi Electoral Commission invited the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Don McKinnon, to send observers for the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections, which were then scheduled for 18 May 2004.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General confirmed his intention to send a Commonwealth Observer Group. However, before confirming that he would constitute such a Group he sent a two-person Assessment Mission of Commonwealth Secretariat officials in April 2004. This Mission reported that the political parties and civil society would welcome the presence of Commonwealth Observers and that the Electoral Commission had provided the necessary guarantees that Commonwealth Observers would have access to polling stations and counting centres and generally be free to pursue their mandate.

The Secretary-General then decided to constitute an Observer Group. An Advance Group, consisting of Observer Ms Koki Muli and Commonwealth Secretariat staff member Mr Linford Andrews, began work in Malawi on 4 May. The purpose of this Advance Group was to assess the electoral environment and to report to the full Observer Group on its arrival. The Advance Group held a series of meetings with Electoral Commission, party and NGO officials in Blantyre and Lilongwe and then travelled extensively, meeting voters and assessing the pre-election mood and arrangements.

The full Observer Group began work in Blantyre on 10 May 2004. It consisted of fourteen prominent Commonwealth citizens supported by a staff team of eight from the Commonwealth Secretariat. It was led by Justice Joseph Warioba, former Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania.

Links of interest

• Democracy Section
• Observer Group Final Report
• Observer Group Departure Statement (PDF) 
• Observer Group Interim Statement
• Observer Group Arrival Statement
• Report of the Commonwealth Expert Team which was present at the display of the voters registration in April 2004 (PDF)
• Report of the Commonwealth expert team on voter Registration in Malawi January 2004 (PDF)