Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo has asked the Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) to guard against taking orders from any other authority in their line of duty as that would go against the expectations of the people.

Munlo made the call during a swearing in ceremony of newly-appointed Mec commissioners on Monday at the High Court in Blantyre.

"This is a very important national assignment and you are expected to perform up to the wishes and expectations of the nation. You are not expected to take instructions from any government department or authority," Munlo said.

One of the commissioners, Nancy Tembo who used to be spokesperson for the Malawi Congress Party, said they would perform to the best of their abilities to uphold the Constitution.

"Malawians should expect a commission which will be guided by the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi and their aspirations. If we deviate from that, then we will not be serving the people," Tembo said.

The ten commissioners who were sworn in yesterday are Bernard Malango, Maxwell Mezuwa Banda, Bertha Simwaka, Elvy Kalonga Mtafu, Wellington Nakanga, Gloria Chingota, Stanley Biliati and Nancy Tembo.