DC Nkasala warns parties on campaign rallies before official period starts

As the clock is ticking towards the May 2019 tripartite elections, Blantyre District Commissioner (DC) Bennet Nkasala has issued a stern warning to political parties to desist from conducting public rallies in the district before the start of the official campaign period.

Nkasala: Campign period has not officially started

The development follows reports of increased numbers of political parties conducting campaign rallies in the district, before the start of the official campaign period in readiness for the polls.

Nkasala issued the warning during a joint Multiparty Liaison Committee (MPLC) and District Elections Support Team (DEST) meeting held on Wednesday in the district.

He said political parties should abide to the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act of 1993 which states that the official campaign period opens two months before the polling day.

‘’Presently what we are experiencing is that political parties have started conducting campaign meetings, on a regular basis my office is receiving  lots of letters asking for my permission for them to conduct campaign rallies in the district,’’ Said Nkasala.

He said currently his office has stopped issuing authorization letters to political parties from conducting campaign rallies in the district up to the start of official campaign period next year.

‘’If political parties continue to disregard the call and continue conducting campaign rallies we will consider those meetings illegal and necessary measures will be taken’’ warned Nkasala.

Senior Chief Kapeni of Blantyre described the DC’s call as timely as other political parties have intensified campaign meetings in the district before the start of the official campaign period.

He said he will ensure that all the electoral stakeholders in the district are abiding to the Act by not conducting campaign meetings before the stipulated time.

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) District Chairperson for Blantyre Feston Kambiya and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) District Governor for Blantyre Rural Peter Bello welcomed the call saying the parties will now focus on developmental rallies up to the start of the official campaign period.

The meeting attracted Traditional leaders, senior Police Officers, religious leaders and other key stakeholders in the electoral process.

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Prince of thieves in Mzuzu

You must warn Pitala the prince of thieves first. All he is doing is campaigning.

Pofera Salambula
Pofera Salambula
5 years ago

Funny and tyrannical…

Samuel
Samuel
5 years ago

Wise words. Its too early. Its like every politician is desperate but its good to wait for the official time.

Makanda Ntchembere
Makanda Ntchembere
5 years ago

Campaign rallies? Development rallies? what is the difference in Malawi context? DPP has been having campaign rallies since 2014 in the name of development rallies. They even have a programme on MBC Manifesto, May be you should also ask MBC in Blantyre to stop campaigning for DPP broadcasting this programme. Above all ask MBC in Blantyre to free the airwaves, 1994 we voted for multiparty and one of the reason was to see MBC free from seemly armpit of the government, especially DPP.

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