The Civil Society Organizations with representation from Council for NGOs in Malawi (CONGOMA; Pan African Civic Educators Network (PACE Net; Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN), National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), Centre for Multi-Party Democracy (CMD); Public Affairs Committee (PAC); Church and Society CCAP Synod of Livingstonia; Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC); Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR); Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) National Secretariat; Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC); Natural Resources Justice Network (NRJN); National Electoral Systems Trust (NEST); Association of Progressive Women (APW); Mtendere Network; NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN); Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM); Quadria Muslim Association of Malawi (QMAM) and with Observers from Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), NGO Board of Malawi and National Democratic Institute (NDI), met on Friday August 23 2019 at Hippo View Lodge in Machinga, convened under the banner of Council for NGOs in Malawi (CONGOMA) and Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN).

Having deliberated on the post-21 May 2019 Tripartite Elections situation:

1. Noted with serious concern
2. The continued violence and criminal activities related to ongoing demonstrations.
3. Uncoordinated efforts by CSOs to pacify the political situation of contested electoral results.
4. Lack of a political settlement in view of serious divisions in society along party lines.
5. The visible unpreparedness by Political parties and party followers alike to accept Court determination if it is unfavourable to them.
6. Agreed as Way Forward to:
7. Re-affirm the Constitutionality of demonstrations as a right
8. Policy reform to allow for Civil Society organizations field Election Monitors as opposed to Election Observers in future elections
9. Pursue electoral reforms; non-violent and crime-free demonstrations and a political settlement in view of serious divisions in society along party lines.
10. Have unified and coordinated efforts by Civil Society that will avoid competition. Henceforth put in place 3 Task teams/ Committees to be coordinated by CONGOMA on Electoral Reforms; Dialogue and Non-violent and crime-free demonstrations.
11. Push for an accord by Political Parties to the electoral court cases to accept Court outcomes on the disputed election results of 21 May 2019.