LILONGWE, April 9 (Xinhua) -- The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) on Tuesday rolled out a calendar of events ahead of the Sept. 16 general election in the southern African country, with the campaign period officially kicking off on July 14.

MEC Chairperson Justice Annabel Mtalimanja announced the calendar when she updated the public on the activities that the electoral body has implemented so far.

The key upcoming events include the inspection of voters' registration and verification of names, which will take place in three phases from mid-April to May 31. This will be followed by consultative meetings with political parties and their information, communication, and technology experts on June 9 and 10.

The collection of nomination papers for local government elections, parliamentary elections, presidential elections, and all related activities, such as the presentation of nomination papers, will occur from June 10 to July 5.

The commission will hold meetings "to consider and approve" parliamentary and presidential candidates and "publish the duly approved and nominated" candidates from July 9 to 14, according to Mtalimanja.

Political parties and independent candidates will switch into campaign mode to battle for local government, parliamentary and presidential seats from July 14 to 48 hours before the polling day.

There are over 20 registered political parties in Malawi, but the key contestants in the general election are the ruling Malawi Congress Party and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party, with the incumbent 70-year-old President Lazarus Chakwera and 84-year-old former President Peter Mutharika as their respective candidates.

Meanwhile, the United Transformation Movement, which is now being led by Malawian former Central Bank Governor Dalitso Kabambe, following the death of the party's leader Saulos Chilima in a plane crash, is seeking an alliance with other parties, including the United Democratic Front and the Alliance for Democracy. Enditem

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