Let Mutharika assent electoral bills, change is here to stay —Kaliati
UTM Party secretary general (SG) Patricia Kaliati has piled pressure at President Peter Mutharika to sign election reforms bills passed by parliament.
Malawi’s parliament in February passed the electoral reforms bills, which paves the way for fresh elections after the constitutional court nullified the May polls.
The court cited massive irregularities in the vote, which saw Mutharika re-elected.
The electoral bills propose a date for fresh elections and procedures to follow in case of runoffs.
“We demand that President Mutharika assent to the electoral Bills now because change is here to stay,” said Kaliati on Sunday during a political rally at Njamba Freedom Park.
Malawi’s constitution gives the president 21 days to sign the bills into law. But there have been worries from electoral stakeholders that Mutharika will drag out the process.
However, presidential spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani said Mutharika will make his stand on whether to assent to the electoral reform bills or not by Friday.
In the event that the president has refused to assent to the bills, the bills will be taken back to parliament where they will be debated and passed.
Among others, the bills sets the date for the fresh election, gives guidance on the holding of a rerun in case no presidential candidate failed to amass the 50+1 and empowers the president to fire the current cohort of MEC commissioners.
Sources close to the president say Mutharika is waiting for a Supreme Court ruling on the election case before making decision on the bills.
inetu ndimadabwa zoti ndi acalista chapola ata osawadziwa kuda biiiii choncho mulungu wayamba kukukanthani
acalista kuda choncho komatueeeee sopoamakupatsani uja watha chifukwa cha mwano nawonso akweni angosololoka khosi god will punish you simunati. acalista mzimu wa bingu koma sukukulotesani?
I was away to Marka, Nsanje. Did I miss something?
Komatu koma musathe mawu a Kaliati. Yanu ija yaku Vwaza tikuikumbukilabe.
There is nothing like 50+1 forget it! The lower court cannot undermine the judgement of the higher court. Mind you should this happen on the land then what would mean if the judgement at the lower court has not satisfied a client and make an appeal in which case it favors the appealant then it means the petitioner can even go back to the lower court and say the supreme court has not given a right judgement which will result in total confusion. So the concourt cannot in anyway reverse what the term majority was interpreted by supreme court. Chonde… Read more »
Cadet iwe. Udzafa imfa yowawa
There are so many Malawians who do not know the laws. But surprising for Kaliati. Parliament failed to come up with a law on 50+1. Now some stupid parlimentarians came up with run off law
Koma akweni aondatu tsopano. Khosi kuchita kusololoka ngati la bakha / mwaliona dziko tsopano. A Chilima anakunyengani
iWENSO UDZAWOLA OLO UMUNENE KWENI
I some times wonder about the power of the President,why is it so much on him? If the President is not available, can a vice President do the job? If yes why are we struggling with this Nyapapi? If not,why having the vice President then? The Office of the vice President is the Office of the President period!
I agree with you totally. This time, the games will change my friend. With or without the constitution. I don’t care about the 50+1 or post-past something. All I care is for the MEC proposal to fire its members signed.
Patricia kaliati, Patricia kaliati, Patricia kaliati.