Presidential debates taskforce leaked questions to MCP —Nandin Patel
The 2019 presidential debates taskforce is facing accusations of leaking questions to Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Lazarus Chakwera, according to renowened University of Malawi political scientist Dr. Nandin Patel.
Patel has said her colleagues had told her that questions were given to Chakwera in advance by the task force.
When pressed by colleagues on one of the chat forum to reveal more, Patel started to backtrack for letting the cat out of the bag.
Unsurprisingly, Chakwera was given the privilege of speaking last in both rounds of debates in a bid to give him favour when principal of fairness would have allowed for another candidate to go last as this is considered a crowning moment.
The task force consisted of Misa-Malawi, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), Times Group and Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS).
Others were Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), Democracy Works Foundation (DWF), Civil Society Agriculture Network (Cisanet), Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Malawi Law Society (MLS), Public Affairs Committee (PAC), Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
The final presidential debate tackled a number of emerging issues with the focus being on youth-related issues, including population growth, opportunities for the youth, private sector development, infrastructure, climate change and sustainable development.
Youths constitute more than half of the 8.6 million people who registered as voters in this year’s election and, according to chairperson of the debate’s organising task force Teresa Ndanga, the youth vote would be very critical in the elections.
“The privileges that we are enjoying today as voters will only be exercised again in 2024,” she said.
She urged voters to seriously consider who they would vote for during the May 21 elections.
Mbuzi za wanthu inu ingovomerezani kuti Chakwera ndi mzwanya he knows what Malawians wants and he is ready deliver after 21 may muchita manyazi inu
kkkk Andadabwa Mukanena za Skul LAZ Got 7 points kuti apite ku Chanco ndie si Size yanu .Zinyozani Choncho…Paja inu ndi Gulu lama 32 lolirira Quota System.
The story titled Presidential debates task force leaked questions to MCP – alluded to me is false and baseless.
There was a conversation in a whatsapp group about debates where I expressed my opinion on the debates. I made no mention of LEAKAGE and MCP and CHAKWERA.
In fact I commended the professionalism of the task force.
I humbly request to refrain from such malicious exercise..
anadziwa kuti chakwera ndi mbuli za mbuli thats why anamupatsa mafunso.
It seems Ena atofuna kupanga Justify why Anatothawa Debate.Last Time it was Zodiak being accused of Leaking questions to Mia.Ndie Mwaupongatu.Mbakuwaku Said Munthu Wochotsedwa Ntchito Salandira Ndalama. Koma simutoyikoka Chifukwa ….Darkness will always Fight Light.Mbusa mukuyesera kumpanka Matope koma Sizikutheka.
Chakwera kubera mafunso a presidential debate. Foolish!
Kkkkkkkkk agogo anathawa, akanakhala iwowo anapita akanawapatsa iwowo.
What you should know is that MBC is the messenger of DPP. This means that MBC would rather want Chakwera to win other than Saulos Chilima due to bitterness. So, I can clearly see the devil’s advocate by MBC as a member of the task force.
Ana a njoka inu, prove your case. Why back tracking when you really know who leaked the questions . You complain of the baisiness on who spoke the last. Why dont you complain too that Chakwera was the first to take the first question. Mulira simunati.
I do not see anybody complaining of unacceptable behaviour of underratting others in the debate and you call it “showing off”.
Bravo Dr Lazaro. Supper HI 5 on the move.
Enawo asova ndi Bwampini wawo
Dr. Nadin Patel, who are these colleuques of yours . Tell us as you have done with this issue. Are you sure MBC being a member of a task force would have been silent as such. You are a Liar I think DPP has paid you to make bad image of the Good Task Force like this one
Can the author of this accusation justify it please, MBC was one of the stakeholders and how could it allow to leak the questions to one candidate, or does it mean all stakeholders are Chakwera sympathisers? This is a serious allegation and if there is evidence let it come out to shame the devil, why hide it. We respect the whistle blower of this allegation but let her just substantiate it.