Mutharika cautions on Malawi electoral reforms: MEC present report on 2014 Tripartite Elections
President Prof. Peter Mutharika Tuesday advised Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Commissioners and the electoral body’s heavy weights to only adopt reforms that are reasonable, workable and practical.
Mutharika said this at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe when the Commissioners and MEC officials presented a report of the 2014 Tripartite Elections.
The President said he was fully aware and has followed the ongoing discussions regarding the need to make certain changes to the electoral law of the country.
However, he reminded the Commissioners that the fundamental constitutional principle requires that all laws enacted in the country must reflect the wishes of the people of Malawi and not that of particular individuals.
“With careful consultation and consideration, some of the proposed reforms may be unnecessary because the real problem lies in the manner the commission discharges its constitutional mandate and not because of any inadequacies in the law.
“Whatever work you have done or are doing must have the support of the people of Malawi. Therefore, MEC must resist the temptation of proposing reforms as a response to sectoral complaints as opposed to a real and genuine national concern,” the President explained.
He further said: “Change in the law alone cannot deliver the desired results unless that change starts with you commissioners. As commissioners, you must be fully cognisant of your mandate as conferred on the Commission by the constitution.”
Among the proposed reforms include; re-demarcation of wards and constituencies, adoption and use of the biometric voter registration system in the future elections and the use 50+1 System in identifying the winner especially for presidential.
On re-demarcation of wards and constituencies, the President advised that the process be done properly and according to the dictates of the law.
Mutharika however was pleased to have received the report which he said will help in planning for the next elections.
“Though 18 month has passed since you organised and managed the first ever tripartite elections, I am delighted to receive the report from you pursuant to the constitution as well as statutory mandate conferred on the electoral commission by law,” the President said.
Justice Maxwell Mbendera, MEC Chairperson assured the President that the Commission will perform as mandated by the law and that the wishes of Malawians are granted.
“We assure you that we will deliver our best and in the interest of all Malawians,” briefly Mbendera said.
Mbendera however could not divulge any minute detail of the report saying, “ the report highlights how the 2014 elections were handled, identifies some of the areas that need change, how some aspect of the electoral process should be managed as well as about the task force that has been established to implement the reforms.”
According to section 6 of the constitution of Malawi, MEC has an obligation to report to the President on new developments the commission is undertaking.
The 2014 reported was supposed to be presented in 2015 but it failed due to the President’s busy schedule.
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Obviously two critical issues in question must be reviewed for the well being of voters. 1.The issue of 50+1 is very important for the president not to work under pressure from majority of critics or opposition. Too much opposition is dangerous and Threatening to the president and good governance. 2.Rushing to take orth is another challenge as leaves irregularities un solved .
Time it takes from counting election results and their subsequent release is too short. It does not give adequate time to investigate and resolve anomalies or disputes.
Make it a minimum of three months. Currently the laws favours hurried swearing of State President at the expense of ensuring that the counting and tallying of votes is correct
Those who say 50+1 is not conducive to Malawi are selfish. How do you explain a winning candidate attaining 30% of the total vote, can such a president have the support of the majority of the people in the country???? After all democracy requires that majority should rule, how do you containt the majority that is 70% in the opposition camp??? The question is not who won the past elections but to redefine the future of our country.
Asiyeni ndimomwe adyera
MWAONA KUTI MA BY ELECTIONS ANTHU SANAKAVOTE YOU CAN CHEAT PEOPLE ONCE NOT TWICE KIKI!
Take out some constituencies and redematcate some big constituencies like Lilongwe north its just too big , population in constituency is equal to sum of 3 constituencies in the south
“50+1” is NOT a “must have” fashion, as many people seem to suggest here. Many assume, or rather wish, that DPP would NOT have won that last election in a 50+1. Not necessarily a given. Just study the voting patterns (by culture – read tribe), and the fact that many Malawians now live outside their own “home” districts and regions. There are more southerners living in the Central and Northern Regions than vice versa. Coupled with the fact that Malawians tend to vote to favor the “wakwithu”, results would still have favored APM, or Bakili Muluzi when he run. Also,… Read more »