The Civil Society Elections Integrity Forum (CSEIF) has welcomed President Lazarus Chakwera’s decision to reconvene Parliament on August 5, 2025, to deliberate on the Presidential, Parliamentary, and Local Government (Amendment) Bill.

In a statement signed by Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe, CSEIF described the move as a “victory for democracy”, emphasizing that it upholds citizens’ constitutional right to vote as outlined in Section 40(3) of the Constitution.

Kondowe noted that the decision aligns with the Forum’s recent appeal to President Chakwera, in which they urged him to exercise his constitutional authority to summon an emergency parliamentary sitting following the National Assembly’s dissolution on July 23.

“We commend the President for responding positively to our call. This is a significant step toward safeguarding electoral integrity,” Kondowe stated.

He, however, cautioned Members of Parliament against treating the session as a mere formality, urging them to deliberate responsibly and prioritize the reinstatement of special voting provisions — particularly for voters who will be on duty during the elections.

The emergency session comes ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for September 16, 2025.