What will be different this time around?

We are less than two weeks from the impending general elections, 2019. During the last general elections in 2014 there were several observer missions, if I recall correctly. Of particular note was the election observer mission from the African Union/Commission which was led by former president of Malawi, Dr. Joyce Banda.

Dr. Banda's mission issued a report containing some recommendations at the end of their observation of our general elections.

My first question is directed at the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of our country: Which of the missions recommendations have been implemented for this year's elections, and which, if any, have not? Why have any not been implemented?

My second question is directed at all the candidates in this year's elections: Before you registered as a candidate did you have the answers to the question above? If not, is that because you don't care or because you were not even aware that any recommendations were made by said Dr. Banda's mission in 2014?


My third and last question is directed at newspaper columnist Anthony Morima: If some of the recommendations have not been implemented, in particular the recommendation to count ballot papers BEFORE transporting them from the polling stations, will you consider the result of the election as TRULY reflective of voter sentiments, given that you have been making all sorts of predictions about the likely election outcome?
 

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