Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Times News
Published on 2024-03-30 06:15:58
The Political Parties Bill was passed into law by Parliament in November 2017, with the aim of promoting transparency in the political landscape of Malawi. One of the key provisions of the law was the requirement for political parties to disclose the sources of their funds and to prohibit the practice of giving handouts to voters in order to gain their support. However, seven years later, the law appears to be toothless and ineffective in regulating these practices.
Recent events have raised concerns about the integrity of the upcoming 2025 elections in Malawi. A video circulating on social media showed a Malawi Congress Party (MCP) aspirant, Fransco Mkandawire, distributing cash to attendees at a meeting in Mzuzu City. This raised questions about the enforcement of the law and the role of the authorities in ensuring compliance.
The Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) investigated the matter and clarified that the event was a caucus for MCP area committees, rather than a violation of electoral laws. Mec emphasized that the responsibility for enforcing the Political Parties Act falls under the Registrar of Political Parties, a position that has yet to be filled according to Ministry of Justice spokesperson, Frank Namangale.
Nonetheless, civil society organizations such as the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Youth and Society (Yas) have expressed disappointment with the lack of enforcement of the law. They argue that the failure to regulate handouts and disclose funding sources undermines the integrity of the electoral process.
CHRR Executive Director Michael Kaiyatsa stressed the importance of enforcing the law to level the playing field for all political parties. He urged the authorities to take action and hold those who violate the law accountable in order to maintain the integrity of the 2025 elections.
Yas Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka highlighted the need for the timely recruitment of a Registrar of Political Parties to ensure the effective enforcement of the Political Parties Act. He warned that without proper enforcement mechanisms, elections in Malawi will continue to be influenced by financial incentives rather than the will of the voters.
In response, MCP spokesperson Peter Ching’oma defended the practice of giving out cash handouts, citing the need to reimburse attendees for their travel expenses. However, he acknowledged that the law condemns such practices and emphasized the importance of transparency in political funding.
Overall, the current state of the Political Parties Act in Malawi raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. Civil society organizations are calling for decisive action to enforce the law and prevent the influence of money in politics. The recruitment of a Registrar of Political Parties and the compliance of political parties with the disclosure requirements are seen as crucial steps towards ensuring transparency and accountability in the political landscape of Malawi.
Read the original article on The Times
