MPs set to dodge political handouts bill
Most members of parliament say they would not be comfortable to pass a law that would stop politicians from giving out handouts during elections.
Centre for Multiparty Democracy, in its quest to bring sanity during elections, is pushing for that law. According to CMD executive director Kizito Tenthani, the main aim of the law is to ensure political campaign are issue centred not riches.
But several members of parliament Nyasa Times interviewed but asked not to be named, said the bill would not see the light of the day because in most cases the lifeline of a politician is money to hook the voters.
“We will be hanging ourselves if we allow such a law,” said an independent MP.
Another MP from the ruling DPP said “there are some positives in the bill to support but on handouts, it will not be wise to ban such.”
The bill, generally, seeks to address the challenges faced when regulating the registration, financing and functioning of the party.
Among other changes, the bill proposes strict transparency and accountability measures on how political parties that receive State funding should operate. It also provides for political parties to disclose their private sources of financing.
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I think Malawi need to raise the minimum qualifications to become an MP.
MSCE is too basic ,most of our parliamentarians can’t think critically.There must also be an age limit.kodi munthu akakalamba.angabereke?
Stupid,selfish,greedy , myopic, egocentric minded MPs who have no love for Malawi and Malawians but for themselves.They know they lack reason to influence voters except thru hand outs. Cancerous minds in our national assembly!
Politicians are a useless lot
The whole razzmatazz of elections in Malawi is exaggerated. What matters in the eyes of the electorate are the policies put forward by the different parties. Why all those brightly coloured shirts/zitenges, etc. with the faces of the party leaders on them? There should be no place for hand-outs/bribes during an election campaign in a democracy. The campaigning parties should be listening to the electorate and finding out what the people want their government to do as well as proclaiming their policies. A politician must be a listener, if he/she is to be electable. Also those standing for election as… Read more »
If MPS will not pass the bill to ban handouts during election we will ask CMD and Malawians who love their country to hold vigil at the Parliamentbuilding.
Really the law could bring sanity and real issue based campaign. The handouts based campaign fuels corruption especially those in power. Let CMD take time to strategize thoroughly before taking the bill to parliament. But I think other MPs will still support the bill
MALAWI WILL NEVER DEVOLOP BECAIUSE OF THIS DEEP ROOTED DISEASE CALLED( HAND OUTS)
EVEN THIS SONG OF WELL WISHERS HAS TO BE ABOLISHED/STOPPED
ONE SANE PERSON WONDERS HOW COME THESE WELWISHERS COME IN ONLY WHEN
THERES MAPWEVU PWEVU
WHILE OUR DEAR BROTHRS AND SISTERS
ARE ON A LONG WAITING LIST IN GVT HOSPITALS TO GET TREATMENT ABROAD ??
WE ALSO NEED WELWISHERS BILL OR MINISTRY
The bill MUST be supported.Political handouts to individuals can be classified as soliciting bribes with an intent to score something in return. This is unethical.
MPs can still be voted for if they indulge in assisting the communities through building clinics, providing boreholes, helping building churches, assisting funding on bridges constructions among other things.
This can be done by every citizen as part of his social responsibility and should not be for the purpose of political campaign. However, this could be a good gesture to score on compaigns.It can not be classified as unethical.