Malawi Law Society letter stir debate: Chakwera seeks legal opinion
Malawians have taken up in various social media platforms to debate on the recently released Malawi Law Society guidelines on the aftermath of the May 21 polls, in which, among other issues, the lawyers body tells the opposition to halt holding political rallies.
MLS letter signed by its honorary secretary Martha Etta Kaukonde said the society has observed that since the announcement of the May 21 Tripartite Elections results, political party leaders of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), UTM Party and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) have arranged public rallies.
The Law Society says political parties should observe that this is not campaign window provided for in Section 56-57 of Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act (PPEA) is 60 days before the opening of the polling.
But some Malawians, in various social media platforms, have questioned the seriousness of MLS on this issue, saying political party leaders have a right to connect to its grassroot after an election.
“This is not the first time and the first country where political leaders hold ‘thank you’ rallies. Politics is about people and political leaders must constantly connect with the people with or without an election,” says Guy Likoswe on Facebook.
Some others accuse MLS of being “compromised” body with leadership being “captured” by the governing DPP.
MLS notes that while political parties have a right to assemble and disseminate information and indeed to raise governance issues with any public offices, they should spend energy to warn their members of the possibility of either outcome of the electoral dispute matter at the Constitutional Court, and the need to manage either outcome in accordance with the constitutional duty.
MCP president Lazarus Chakwera , one of the eight addresses and a petitioner in the election case, said he has received the letter but could not immediately comment.
“I will have to seek legal opinion from our lawyers before we make any comments,” said Chakwera.
UTM Party president Saulos Chilima, another petitioner in the election case, reserved his comments.
A five-judge panel of the High Court sitting as the Constitutional Court is on July 29 set to start hearing a petition filed by Chilima and Chakwera seeking nullification of the presidential election results over alleged irregularities, especially in the result management system.
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MLS should be ashamed for drafting laws that never bite appointed officers. They should know these laws do not benefit Malawians but the apponting authority
While I agree with MLS decision one seriously observes that both Police, Blantyre city council CHANZA and Malawi Law Society are always sidling Dpp. which is not uniting the Malawians. For instance,if one carefully studies what MLS has been conducting itself on the case in court left a lot to be desired. I dont still understand when they said Friends of the Court? Lacks to say the truth by MLS and after all with activities of MLS many Malawians lost trust in this Organization as they always back up their fellow lawyers and if one lawyer is rebuked it means he is so unfortunate indeed otherwise nothing is done by this toothless Organization. On the part of Police it is very pathetic indeed because you will agree with me that whenever a crime is done by anybody from the Dpp their usual response is that We are investigating the matter and no any arrests shall be effective resulting the matter meet natural death while if the same is done by opposition side there is a second immediate arrest action. Police we beg you please to protect everyone and never be misused to save the position of your masters we are all Malawians and discharge your duties accordingly.Its so sad these days that Dpp Cadets are very powerful than the Police. Mr Chanza act according to the laws of democracy otherwise you are spoiling your future as well as that members of your family as people are watching your deeds. Malawians please let us sit down and reason together as Malawi is just very tiny country. Really crying for my beloved Country which in those days was known as Warm Heart of Africa.
muyisova,2024 wooooo
MLS NGATI MWADYA CHIBANZI TIPANGA ZA INU TSOPANO
Rule of law
Means following the law
Tiyeni timvere za law
Osati zamutu
Rule of law should not be applied selectively.
Let not some cadetesses confuse people abusing the the legal fraternity
MLS is siding with DPP, there’s no doubt.But what does it mean in this country where everything is going injustly.What should we expect to change in this lawless country, we better seek Asylum in other countries and leave these DPP THUGS.I’ve really lost trust in you Mr illegal President.
I think MLS should be very careful, they may lose credibility. The expectation out here is that this body should serve the interests of Malawians and not be seen to side with any political grouping. Recently there have been rumours of the leadership of MLS meeting the DPP leadership in secret and promising that they will do everything possible to influence the outcome of the elections case in favour of the DPP and MEC. That already put a dent of the society and they should not further erode the confidence of the people in the society. The law would be useless if its intention is not to protect the vulnerable and the victimised
in fact they have already lost peoples trust. Any leader that has been appointed by the president in Malawi will never be trusted again, until this be changed and presidential powers reduced shall we trust these bodies again.
May God help us….. Malawi is stinking
MLS is just preaching about the law whether you are on the wrong side law is law