Prisoners to vote in future polls

Malawi’s High Court on Thursday ruled that the prison population - estimated at 5,500 - should be allowed to vote in all future elections, media reports said.

The ruling follows the application by the Civil Liberties Committee to the court in which the committee was suing the electoral commission for barring prisoners from voting in the country’s second democratic elections scheduled for 15 June.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Eric Kumitsonyo said: “The right of prisoners to vote is recognised and there is nothing in the constitution to bar them from voting except those on death row.” Kumitsonyo said, however, that it may not be possible for the prisoners to vote on 15 June due to logistical hurdles.