PP pushes for 50+1 law: ‘Malawi should be electing a President by majority’
The proposal to have 50 percent-plus-one majority in the presidential election has resurfaced after People’s Party (PP) of former president Joyce Banda wants the Electoral Reforms Bill which was suffocated in Parliament to be retabled as Parliament start meeting this Monday.
Malawi Law Commission endorsed the merit of shifting to a 50-plus-one system from the current electoral system for presidential elections, the plurality-based First Past the Post (FPTP) system that will see the country receding from the winner-takes-it-all scenario of electing the Head of State.
Since 1994 the FPTP electoral system has been used for the selection of the country’s President, members of Parliament (MPs) and ward councillors.
Under these rules, the candidate on the ballot who gets the most votes is duly elected.
But PP vice president for the North, Kamlepo Kalua, who is also Rumphi East legislator, said the electorate are demanding the revival of shot down Electoral Reforms Bill including the 50-plus-one system.
“We in the PP would be happier if the 50-plus-one Bill would be reintroduced and passed in this November meeting of Parliament,” said Kalua.
The new system will mean that the winning president will have to amass at least 50+ percent threshold of the national vote.
Parliament will have to amend Section 80 (2) of the Constitution and Section 96 (5) of the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections (PPE) Act to provide change of the electoral system from the current simple majority to the 50 plus one percent.
The electoral law reforms entail that where no such majority is obtained by any presidential candidate in the first poll, a run-off “should be held in which two presidential candidates who obtained the highest and second highest number of valid votes cast should be the only candidates.”
In the first post-independence multiparty elections in 1994, Bakili Muluzi won the presidency with 47 percent although later, in his second term, won with 52 percent in 1999.
In 2004, the late Bingu wa Mutharika made it with 36 percent, but his approval rating surged to 66 percent five years later in 2009. His younger brother, Peter, in 2014 secured the presidency with about 36 percent of the votes cast.
Barely two months after Mutharika’s election in 2014, several quarters especially northerners – who come from the least populated region in the country – started lodging serious calls for a federal system of government to do away with the present unitary system.
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Ngakhale ili 10+1 , a PP SIMUNGAWINE
Kamlepo Kaluwa sided with government to shoot down the very same 50+1 bill introduced in parliament. Other PP MP’s stayed away or, like JB’s own son Roy, conveniently left the country about the time voting was to take place. JB knows she can’t win outright and, therefore, wants to play her cards right by re introduction of the bill so that she can align with the electorates’ preferred candidate during runoff.
Sorry Mr. Kaluwa. I doubt you will have your way.
Ma MP odya ma banzi achuluka. They are all protecting their jobs and were convinced by some crooks with the parliament that if the law is passed then they’re likely to lose their seats in the next elections. What a load of bull. many were were paid to vote against the Bill and they did and likely to do it again once paid.
We have too many mad people in this small country including Joyce and kamlepo. The number of mad people is half the population of this country. Now 50+1 how is it going to work with too many parties including the United transport Malawi LTD (UTM)
Where we’re heading may be we need a white man or a Nigerian to rule us.
Everybody is power hungry.
Remember the bill didn’t pass because your very own PP MPs took bribes from DPP to vote against it………..so JB clean your house first!!!!
I strongly support that and our neighbors such as Zambia, Zimbabwe do that and it is successful but again the bill should go together with that of giving the president power to hire and fire his vice like again in Zimbabwe and Zambia. Have you heard a wrangle between the president and his vice in these countries? We should only elect the president
Those of you who are against 50+ are idiots. And those of you suggesting that it should apply to MPs and Councillors are sillier.
Kamlepo zakuthera ndalama unadya za DPP zija pano ukufunanso zina??? Be mindful that 50+1 ukuifunayo it will also apply to u as an MP and councillors
Be reminded that the 50+1 must apply to all: President, MPs and Councillors.
50 plus 1 lero? when u see ur chancing of winning elections r negative zero! lol PP UDF Aford just forget it start business to boost our economy