Clergy petition Malawi President, Speaker: ‘Table Electoral Reforms or face mass action’
Public Affairs Committee (PAC) on Thursday march in the Capital Lilongwe to present the petition to President Peter Mutharika and Speaker of the National Assembly Richard Msowoya at Parliament building demanding the tabling and passing of Electoral Reforms Bills.
The quasi-religious grouping has given government seven days to table Elector0
PAC, which is demanding commitment on the Bills after Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu pledged to table the same this month, has threatened to call for national demonstrations if government fails to honour the ultimatum.
In the petition, the governance watchdog said President Mutharika’s administration failure to table the electoral reforms bill is tantamount to be “a government characterised by lip-services.”
The petition reads: “Such deliberate disregard of tabling the reforms is bent on testing the patience of Malawians which continue to tun thin.”
PAC has remined President Mutharika that governments are given power to ensure that the pursuit of justice, rule of law and integrity are upheld and sustained.
“Failure to table the widely consulted reforms constitutes lack of integrity and respect for the will of Malawians. It is for this reason that we believe in your assertion as DPP presidential candidate ; ‘We in the DPP believe that if a Government does not have integrity, it has no right to govern’ (DPP manifesto, page 6),” reads the petition.
The organisation has asked President Mutharika to ensure that the Electoral Reforms Bill are completed during the current siiting of Parliament.
They appealed to Mutharika to have Electoral Reforms Bill “tabled, debated and passed now rather than later.”
They warned Mutharika: “If this is not done, it may reflect badly on your administration.”
The PAC decision to petition the President and the Speaker coincided with threats by leader of opposition in Parliament Lazarus Chakwera to boycott National Assembly proceedings if the proposed laws are not taken to Parliament.
Two civil society organisations—Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) and Centre for the Development of People (Cedep)—are also lobbying members of Parliament to boycott the proceedings.
The Electoral Reforms Bills include an amendment of Section 80(2) of the Constitution and Section 96 (5) of the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act proposing 50+1 percent majority in presidential election and an amendment of Section 81 (3) of the Constitution for swearing-in of the President and Vice-President to be done after 30 days.
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Kent you are a cheat. It is the same PAC which told Malawians in 2013-2014 that Bingu and his party is not liked by Malawians. Come 2014, people proved that PAC is a cheat by taking DPP to power. The clergy are no more fighting for people. They are doing this for their parties. Mulomole is MCP and Chingota was for PP but with this change of tone by PP Chingota ali m’madzi and might follow Mulomole to MCP But they will achieve nothing.
If you think APM has no support try your nonsense
Misguided petition by PAC an organisation which is now a quasi-opposition political party. What our country (and Africa) needs is a change in political culture – away from one that is guided by patronage, autocracy and corruption. One where public instituions are professional and independent. These men in religious regalia, true to their hypocrisy, are trying to help a certain political party. The proposed electoral reforms (now in bill form) will not solve Malawi’s political problems. Rather, it will institutionalise back-door dealing between parrties in their bid to form alliances in order to win elections OR cosmetically force people to change their mind in a second vote in order to arrive 50+1. An example from 2014 is: what would parties have done in order to get 50+1, of course, form alliances i.e. DPP-UDF; MCP-PP; or MCP-PP-UDF? What about the people? They would have been forced to vote, tactically, in a second round so that a particular party president garnered 50+1.? Does the 50+1 reform give a president more mandate. In theory, probably. Is the swearing in time frame necessary? Not really, because what we need institutions such as MEC and the courts to be independent. Thus, in practice these reforms are USELESS. These clergy men ( i haven’t seen a woman by the way demonstrating) should stop politicising electoral reform. They need to understand that as long as our political culture is driven by patronage, corruption and autocratic tendencies, these reforms will ONLY lead to wasting tax-payers’ money.
Ndikuti..we will go to the street and your president will listen
Tithamange basi
Nayoni musamusiye choncho we are behind you and we will match and demonstrate without fear this is our nation and we have the right to demand what we feel it its rightifull ours. These crooks have spoiled our nation nothing is moving. Time is now or never please keep the fire burning. And you Msowoya if you are bought just know that that money will take you no where. Ruther will be your down fall
Countrymen, it is sad that things have had to reach this stage. In his “Things Fall Apart” the legendary Chinua Achebe writes, “If you see a frog jumping in broad day light know that something is after its life.” Using the same “frog” figure the Chewas say “wadabwa chule m’madzi muli mwake.” What all this means is that there are moments when one is left with their mouth agape at seeing people do things that you have never seen them doing or expected them to do it and you ask yourself: did things have to reach this far?
I few days ago I was privileged to be part of a public debate that was organized by NICE at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre and the topic was “Tabling of Electoral Reforms in Malawi Parliament.” I was amazed at learning about the enormous amount of work that has gone into this reform process over the past 20 years or so. I was also amazed to learn that some people thing that the law review started two or three months ago. We were told by the 6+ discussants who participated in the debate among them Rev. Chimkwita Phiri, Unandi Banda, Rafik Hajat, Dr. Mwiza Nkhata, etc (just to mention some) that the review process started as far back as 1997. Sitting in that room this evening I realized that Malawians are ready for change. It actually reminded me the events of 1992 – 1994 when Malawi was transitioning from the one party system of government to the multi-party system of government. Anger was in the air such that not even person in in the packed was against the proposed changes. Four questions came to my mind and they still do today: a) do things always have to come to this level for those in power to begin to do what people want done? b) what exactly is in “the current” electoral system and laws that forces the incumbents not to accept change? c) if Parliament passes the bills into law who are the main winners or losers? d) if the incumbent are the losers what makes them not to accept loss – is it not normal that government must change hands sometimes?
Looking at the level of resistance that those in power have so far demonstrated in the face of fierce push for electoral reforms, I am left with no doubt that when things change many among us will not want to reside in Malawi. Why that should happen I don’t understand. I will, therefore, wait and see. Between 1992 -1994 I saw many things that I fail to describe to others today. Are things likely to be the same when this bill finally passes into law? I will wait and see. Please, join me on this journey.
Kent Y.G. Mphepo – Blantyre
This is an interesting petition. I call it a necessary evil. Necessary because of the reasons so far advanced. Evil because of the manner in which it is handled. A petition does not contain threats but facts in regard to reason. by definition, it is a ‘formal written request, typically one signed by many people, appealing to authority in respect of a particular cause’ . This particular one contains threats, and so, I deem it evil.
The proposed changes to the Constitution are many and significant. My proposal is for PAC, to ask its financiers, to fund a referendum on the subject matter. It is no secret that PAC has no political constituency, and so cannot claim to be advancing the voice of the people. Let the people speak through a referendum, and PAC will maintain its credibility.
Just to mention: Advancing change of laws does not fall in the ambit of PAC mission. It is not even an Apostolic Mission. An Apostolic Mission is found in one chapter and 3 verses of the Holy Bible: John 21:15-18 ((New International Version (NIV) ))
Jesus Reinstates Peter
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep .
In summary, and in my opinion, yes, in my opinion, PAC, in advancing this Constitutional Change, does not do so through the Apostolic Mission. Apostolic Mission is clear in the above Biblical quote (sorry, I am not a Man of God, but a child of God, you may forgive me if I am wrong here).
My request: IF PAC AND ITS CRONIES are genuine about what they are advancing, why can’t they call for a referendum to get the mandate for doing so? Where are they rushing to? Two questions PAC has not addressed up-to-date are: (1) What reasons did the framers of the Constitution advance for propagating the current system of choosing leaders? (2) Who have determined that the current provisions are obsolete and how have they become so? (3) If the President believes what is in the Constitution is correct as it is, why should we forced him to promote changing it when he swore to protect the Constitution?
THE ABOVE are my narratives: I come from Zomba-Chisi but have no knowledge and have not heard that officials of PAC have been to my constituency to address the questions and concerns I have raised here. Let the Men of God remain true to themselves and the people they claim to serve.
Sincerely.
Why is Peter Muthalika and the DPP so afraid of the Electoral Reforms Bill?
Do not play around with the wishes of the masses.
This is how Kamuzu Banda was reduced from wamuyaya to a resident of Mudi. IN Malawi we do not have General Chiwenga but General Chingota. APM your days are numbered and do not be cheated by your wife who received a fake professorship though she has not even taught at a Sunday School. G40 is no more and BEAM will soon come to an END too
awuzeni major 12. Sakumva. Thes political gangsters do not take hid when people until they collapse in office