Opposition hits at Malawi govt for ‘betrayal’ in blocking 50+1 Bill
Malawi Parliament has rejected yet another adulterated Bill on Electoral Reform, the Transitional Arrangement (Assumption of Offfice by the President and Vice-President Bill) with opposition accusing President Peter Mutharika led administration of “betrayal” to the wishes of Malawians expressed through recommendations of the Special Law Commission report of Electoral Reforms.
Government side also voted to shoot down its own proposition in the Presidential, Parliamentray and Local Government Elections (PPLGE) Bill which was tabled by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu, having been approved by Cabinet..
Legislators, mostly on the government side, had put personal and political interest ahead of national interests giving citizens the raw deal.
Opposition leader and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president Lazatus Chakwera said what government side members of Parliament (MPs) did in rejecting the pieces of legislation is “betral of the highest order.”
“They are sacrificing their own President and Minister of Justice. Here i s a Cabinet that says it is ready to present bills to Parliament and the same Cabinet rejects the bills,” said Chakwera.
Chakwera said the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) led government has “betrayed Malawians.”
In the vote of the Bill, the ‘no’ votes from government were 97 againsy ‘yes’ 65 from opposition on Transitional Arrangement Bill while 97 government side voted against the PPLGE Bill from proceeding to committee stage as 64 from the opposition voted ‘yes’ and 29 absentees.
The Transitional Arrangement Bill created a tranisition team comprising Chief Secretary to the Government, Secretary to Treasury, Commander of Malawi Defence Force, Inspector General of Police and not more than three persons appointed by the incumbent and president-elect.
The PPLGE Bill harmonised the two electoral legislations in line with the provision of a tripartite election in the Malawi Constitution and among other things propose 50 plus one percent system to determine the winning presidential candidate which government also extended to MPs and ward councillors.
However, Salima North-West MP Jessie Kabwila (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) observed that DPP government only brought the Bills to Parliament to hoodwink Malawians and avoid the protests which were being organised by Public Affairs Committee (PAC).
This now means the two Bills will have to be sent back to Ministry of Justice and Contitutional Affairs for redrafting before being tabled again in the House.
The Special Law Commission recommended the introduction of 50+1 percent system of electing the country’s President while maintaining First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) system to consolidate acceptability and legitimacy of the elected Head of State.
In the report, the commission also proposes that Section 80 (2) of the Constitution should read: “[2] The President shall be elected by a majority of more than fifty percent [50 percent] of the valid votes cast through direct, universal and equal suffrage and, where such majority is not obtained by any presidential candidate in the first poll, a second poll shall be held within thirty [30] days after the declaration of the results in which the two [2] presidential candidates who obtained the highest and second highest number of valid votes cast in the first poll shall be the only candidates.”
The commission explained that it considered whether the FPTP system should be abandoned in favour of another system that would be more suitable for presidential elections as it was viewed that the FPTP system was no longer relevant for Malawi as experience had exposed its weakness in dealing with the challenge of regional parties, the representation of women in elected office, and the potential to produce winning candidates that do not have the support of the majority of the people who voted.
In the past five presidential elections since the adoption of multiparty democracy through the 1993 National Referendum, only in two elections the winner scooped total votes equal to more than 50 percent of the votes cast.
In the most recent elections in May 2014, President Peter Mutharika got 36.4 percent of the total votes while in 2009 Bingu wa Mutharika (deceased) had an unprecedented 66.17 percent coming from a meagre 35.97 percent in 2004.
In 1999, Bakili Muluzi amassed 52.34 percent from 47.15 percent in 1994.
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where was kamlepo & others.
Don’t worry in 2019 they will be only two candidates competing for presidency…. Its 50+1 kale so don’t worry dpp iluza 2019…
If it is betrayal then it is opposition that has done the job. Can Mr Chakwera explain where were his MPs during the voting time? How can a sane leader of opposition send his MPs to off duty at this crucial and decisive moment? Was that not a confirmation that he did not like the bill but was being forced by PAC?
A PAC mwaonatu momwe a tambwali wobadwanso mwatsopano amachitira. Better a devil you know than a brand new one in the carnation of Chakwera. Ine ndi a pabanja langa tidzavotera Mutharika.
Leave the laws of Malawi intact please, whoever wins should follow them not changing them. PAC is talking their own mind not the peoples mind, the MPs are also talking their minds not people’s minds. Am 100% sure that none of all these groups consulted the so called masses or the voiceless even the so called poor people. It’s better to have a constitution that is stable than a staggering one. May the Good Lord continue blessing The Nation of Malawi. Amen!!!!!
POWER TO THE PEOPLE. WE DEMAND REFERENDUM ON 50+1 v FPTP TO SETTLE THIS ISSUE ONCE & FOR ALL. DANCE WITH SNAKES NO MORE.
There is no betrayal regarding the 50+1 bill, it was a thing of opposition making due to mistiming. I can understand PAC for rushing the bills because they have nothing to lose. But not MCP which should have known better that you don’t make drastic changes to laws which can make the incumbent ruler fail being re-elected. May be MCP couldn’t wait for 2024 because in case MCP goofs again in 2019 their current president will be ineligible to represent the party but the best they can do is to change their constitution. As for me it is a huge sigh of relief at least for now because I feel this 50+1 law will disintegrate the nation. Our regionalism kind of voting will be tantamount to requesting 3 regions to form two groups and the result is chaos.
By proposing 50+1, it meant that after first elections fail to identify an outright winner, Malawians would have to vote again with the top two competing. Several problems arise from such an arrangement:
1. It means those who did not vote for any of the top 2 would be forced to vote for one of them in the repeat election. In other words, voters will be forced to vote for someone they did not want in the first place.
2. It is a waste of money and time to organise repeat election.
3. Candidates who did not make to the top 2 will gang up against one or the other of the top 2 candidates. This can be a source of civil war, especially if the number one candidate fails to win the elections in the second round.
4. We would be wasting voters’ time to vote again.
Therefore, the MPs, particularly those from the Govt side had the best interest of their country by defeating the bill.
It was stupidity from the word go. You can’t formulate a law just targeting APM.
Brothers and sisters, my fellow Malawians.
I have stand on the mountain with this heart this side, i have put on black glasses so that i can be able to see far and see who is that one? When i saw that it is you, my eyes started bringing tears and my heart started working fast than ever before because i remembered one thing. This thing came in my mind when i saw an old woman waking up early in the morning on 20th May trying to be the first on the line to vote.
It was a time where what she was hearing for the past days, was that SEND ME, I WILL DO IT. These were the words coming from one called shadow MP.
When the changes are denied, Denied will be changed!
This is Malawi our Home, no one will come from any country to change our country, it is us who can make our country to be a good for us or to be a bad for us!
Surprisingly, what has happen to day is a sign that we Malawians we do not like changes,i have realize that we hate the truth and believing lies.
What has happen to day, shows that Malawians will be like this up to many years if seriously we are to watch this.
These changes we wanted to have was not for Chakwera as a Leader of Opposition and Peter as a President, these people i have mention here, they will not be there one day, but Malawi will be there!
These changes were not there to suit one side, but to suit the Democracy we wanted in our Country.
May be not to us but to our future generation!
These people who are denying to change, they are there because other people accepted changes in our beautiful Country, other people accepted to be stupid for them to be called MP and or as Leaders, therefore these people are making choices that will suit them not Malawi as a Nation.
Who will suffer? Is it not those who waked up early in the morning trying to be the first on the line?
Other Countries are developing because they accepted changes, changes in mindset, changes in life, changes at work, changes in Democracy, changes in families, changes in schools, changes in business and many things, THEY ACCEPTED CHANGES IN THEIR COUNTRIES!……………………………………………………..
God bless Malawi!
This country is in the hands of thugs, thieves crooks. and if Dpp thinks that they have it the way they wanted it they will be shocked one day. Watch this space. kunali anthu kunja kuno oti samaganiza nkomwe kuti angadzatuluke mboma. Lero ali kuti???? Chipani chinatha ngati makatani. Tionana 2019.
kkkkkkkkkkk Betrayal yachani Kape Iwe ?????
What happened in parliament is DEMOCRACY. The people who were pushing for 50+1 were the elites because they are fighting for power. People in the villages want government to focus on improving their lives. This bill was a flop from the onset. Could the catholic church, other churches, PAC, civil society activists and the media SHUT UP now! Let’s concentrate on other pressing issues.
If the MPs represented the wish of the people, it could be pure democracy. But there is evidence that money has exchanged hands, that’s not democracy.
If the members were to do a secret ballot, the results could be different.
You can play your tricks DI-PHI-PHI. But there is a God in heaven who can never be cheated. When we pary he answers. Dont rejoice too much. It is not over until you win!
Which poor masses are you referring? Do they know 50 +1 you are talking about? Which government uplifted their lives starting from the colonial rule? Leave them alone coz it’s you who is hungry for power who is talking about change coz you are afraid to lose again. Those who crafted our constitution explore all voting systems on earth and came up with this one. It is you the elite who are for change fearing DPP. Don’t shield behind the poor masses
PAC dinned with the Devil (Politicians) as did the Sheiks. What should we expect when Faith groups betray the voiceless masses? Bringing the bills to parliament alone was not a reason enough to cancel the demonstrations
May Almighty God save Malawians from these greedy and devilish politicians! Malawi is in shit now as even PAC just romances the devil. Poor Malawians are crying because of these greedy politicians. Who will speak for voiceless Malawians? We cry for our beloved Malawi as this bill is for all Malawians and the future generation; it was not favoring any political party. Then these greedy politicians and devilish politicians are taking advantage of poor Malawians to manipulate them by rejecting this important bill.
To all Malawians! regional politics will end up division of the nation. Anthu amene ali ochepa pa chigawo asakhale akapolo kwamene ali ambiri mchigawo. If that is the case then it will be better the minority to be ruled by themselves and majority as well…….ndale zopangila kuti wina akhaule sizidzathandiza kalikonse muno mMALAWI, umphawi sudzatha olo pangóno. The South should have their own government, Centre and North……..tatopa ndi ndale zopusazi.
This is strange. The opposition side in Malawi Parliament has more MPs than Govt side. How come the Govt side defeated the bill? Chakwera should explain how his MPs voted.
The said number of opposition mps include Independent mps who also short down the bill. The main reason is that the bill was changed by the executive which included mps and councilors against the Law commission proposition which affected only the election of the president in 50+1 bill.
Why should MPs and Councillors be spared? They are also elected leaders, and the same music should be played.
This is why I have been saying!!!! politicians are not Christians nor moslems!!!!
Referendum way to go.
We will meet in 2019.You can play your tactics today as if you are going to vote for yourselves,2019 MCP Boma and no negotiation
This is how Malawi politicians are pulling back this country’s progress. Ma 2 handed pin omwe alandirawo akukatheranso ku mahule yet awakhumudwitsa anthu omwe anawasankha. Apa pakanachitika referendum tikanaona kusintha.
DPP know that no condition is permanent, you’ll not be in government forever, this is a fact. You think you’ve won but this will come around some day.
I think kwatsalaku tingochita ma demo agaisnt PAC, ma catholic bishop, Livingstonia synod, Nkhoma synod ndi ma CSO akutionongera dziko. Parliament has spoken.
Dziko ndilowonongeka kale ili ndipo likupitilirabe kuonongeka with this type of shit government and it’s MPS.
God should forgive you. Please think of the voiceless Malawians who voted for the same devilish parliamentarians and not your greedy belly.
Kuluza kulipo wayamba kunjenjemera mumaesa mulipo ambiri
DDP apparently are stopping at nothing to still continue ruling and looting this country. They pretty well know that most Malawians are not happy with the way the country is run.. Yet DDP thugs are using all the tricks, desperately tightening loose ends in an effort to consolidate their grip on power.
For example, recently DDP has been on a major shopping spree for non-principled, re-cycled and corruption-intoxicated politicians, achina:”Change Golo, Muzomela et al”; DDP has also been promising the moon (cheating Malawians) that blackouts will end or at least be alleviated by December, in an effort to just calm Malawians down; and just this week DDP has been at it again, believing it has tricked Malawians by bringing to parliament adulterated Electoral Reform Bill.
And some DDP zealots are exited and over-the-moon with the recent developments BELIEVING that DDP is on top of the game.
Lest DDP deliberately chooses to forget, Atcheya, the most influential politician in Malawi just a decade, tried similar political maneuvers with his 3rd term bid aka ‘ayimanso campaign’ but failed miserably. Bakili NEVER imagined UDF will be out of power. Where is 2009 wooooh???
And then with this popular but crazy, primitive belief that “we have the numbers” Akumwela onse ndi a Tcheya, Bakili decided to form what he considered a formidable grand coalition with JZU to solely remove late Bingu (RIP) from government, who was by no doubt a political lightweight then. But the results of the general elections shocked them all.
So, ddp should STOP being too pompous, naive and stupidly clever here. Pensulo la mulungu ndi lina. Ask Mugabe, Yahya!!!
Phungu wina wa ku Thyolo wapelekapo ndemanga komanso kukana bilo yokhudza 50% plus yomwe sinapelekedwe mnyumba yamalamulo. Chodabwitsa kwambiri nchakuti bilo yomwe imakambidwa nthawiyo inali ya Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government. Tsopano tadziwa kuti mabilo apititsidwa ku nyumba yamalamulo pofuna kuphimba mmaso anthu. AMalawi nkhani ndi imeneyo!
It is high time we advocated for a federal system of government.The Southerners have proved to be selfish and can no longer be trusted with power. The north and centre should work together to defeat the thugs.
If the opposition leader is failing to control his opposition block,how can he control the whole government machinery. Look at the situation in which MCP MPs run away from the Chamber towards division vote. I said yesterday that what happened on wedsday was just ashes,the real fire is coming. This is it now. Even today it will be same old songs. Atipusisa,Atipusisa,Atipusisa. kkkkkkkkk.
Ndi imeneyotu anyapapi mumati mfwiiiimfwii ndi 50+1. Parliament has spoken. What next? Muchita ma demo against parliament? Are members of parliament not independent in the way they vote as Chakwera is now crying?
What does this mean?
What kind of a democracy is this? Where the majority, the population, Malawians in particular have no say over the running of their own government?
Two things are involved here; greedy and myopic politicians we have, and too passive citizens!
could someone give the names of opposition MPs who absentee themselves so that the nation knows them and outvote them in 2019 for we know for sure they did that deliberately after they were paid by DPP.
PAC whats the way forward?please come out in the open