Reforming electoral laws to unify Malawi, no single region dominates presidency – PAC
The quasi-religious organization, Public Affairs Committee (PAC), says reforming Electoral and Local Government Laws will help put to rest calls for federalism in Malawi.
PAC vice chairperson, Brother Osman Karim, made the remarks in an interview with Nyasa Times in Lilongwe on the sidelines of a press briefing the Committee held ahead of the landmark Constitutional Court ruling in the Presidential Elections case on February 3, 2020.
Karim observed that calls for federalism were a result of discontent over how government has been distributing resources and development, which seemed to favour one region (Southern Region) since the first multiparty elections in 1994.
“Some people think calls for federalism are from the north only. But I can assure you that even the Eastern Region is calling for the same because people there feel sidelined in the distribution of development and social amenities.
“So, the only way to deal with this problem is to reform our electoral as well as Local Government laws to ensure no single region dominates the presidency and also no single region enjoys development projects,” he said.
Karim emphasized that calls for federalism will never stop if the incumbent does not change its approach in the distribution of resources.
Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court has ordered the Malawi National Assembly to debate and adopt the proposed Electoral Laws, which include the 50 + 1.
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MEC can use ‘majority’ as dictated by the constitution without additional resources by simply asking contestants to coalesce their results to get a ‘majority’ result: Chilima’s result could be coalesced with either Mutharika’s result or Chakwera’s result to get a ‘majority’ result but it would require clear ‘rules of the game’ respected by the Constitution and Parliament!!!!!
50% + 1 will result into allocation of huge chunk of government resources towards elections. I do not think this system is cost effective for our current economic livelihood. Anthu tilibe zipatala why ask us to vote twice in a rerun then most likely another run-off for the top two. Just to find a winner will take nearly two years at cost of K300 billion. Omwe apindule ndi za rerun ndi omwe ali ndi ma business opulinta ma poster and ma lawyers. the current system is okay, just form alliances basi do not change to 50% + 1.
Open a PRINTING BUSINESS also then….
Whether 50+1 or not, federalism is another important pending issue.
Federalism will still come and we won’t relent…………just after 50+1, the next stage will be calling for Federal before finally reaching for what we want and will still get it at any cost….SECESSION…that is our DESTINATION……
Let us keep on moving, we will be the small country but more effectively managed like SWITZERLAND…….WE WILL BE…….!!!!!!!
The judiciary should not be dominated by one region. Why do we have the majority of judges from one region? We need quota system in the judiciary too.
I agree with you Damu
In case you are not aware, in early years of our independence Law was shunned by most people as a Difficult and Demanding profession. Very few people from other regions pursued it. Attitudes have since changed.
Not true. Most of the judges and lawyers in Malawi studied through Chancellor College’s MZUZU Corner. That is why we have 99 % of them from one region.
Qualified, kikikikiiiiiiii
Yes, through Chancellor college’s Mzuzu corner. Kugawana mayeso ndithu.
Those are merit things. No mediocrity!
Through Mzuzu corner where they get exams and network.
PAC ndiye kuti chianinso apumbwa inu.
50+1% VOTES