LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawi Parliament on Monday, February 24, amended Parliamentary and Presidential Elections Act to allow holding of fresh presidential election on May 19, 2020.
The amendment also stipulates that the Act can pass via simple majority and not two thirds of majority as required for Constitutional Amendment.
Among other reforms, parliament has also made further amendments to two of the electoral reforms bills-the Electoral Commission (Amendment) (no.2) Bill 2020 Parliamentary and Presidential Elections (Amendment) (no.2) Bill 2020.
The two amended bills include the removal of section 80A of the Constitution, which was shot down last week.
When the motion to further amend PPE was brought up, members were divided to vote for the motion to present Bill number 5 for it to be adopted. After voting; 93 voted for yes, 80 for no; one abstained and 18 were absent.
In the rejected Constitutional Amendment Bill, there was a motion to add Section 80A to the Constitution which proposed dates for fresh election, procedure for rerun/runoff among others.
