By Phillip Pasula
MZUZU-(MaraviPost)-The Malawi Network for Older Persons Organisation (MANEPO) has strongly opposed a Private Members’ Bill yet to be presented to parliament proposing a constitutional amendment to render any person above 80 years of age ineligible to contest for the country’s presidency.
MANEPO has categorised the proposed bill as ‘ageism’, constituting bias, discrimination, or bullying against individuals and groups based on age. While wondering whether such a bill would also bar individuals above 80 from becoming members of parliament or assuming the role of Speaker of the National Assembly, MANEPO further argues that the bill infringes upon the democratic rights of all Malawians to participate in the democratic process by excluding those aged 80 and above.
Executive Director for MANEPO, Andrew Kavala, told Maravi Post that the bill was retrogressive.
“This bill is retrogressive, undemocratic, and completely based on erroneous assumptions. Furthermore, its fundamental premise, suggesting that the presidency requires individuals below 80 years of age, is based on illogical and unfounded assumptions as there is no scientific evidence, this far, that persons aged 80 and above lack the mental competence and vigour required for the highest office of the land,” remarked Kavala.
And in an official communiqué that MANEPO has released, an observation is made that in a country where older persons continue to endure harassment, assault, stigma and killings, the bill does little to challenge and transform misconceptions and deeply embedded attitudes towards older persons.
Interestingly, the National Assembly is on the verge of passing an Older Person’s Bill, which aims at ensuring that every older person in Malawi enjoys their human rights, free from all forms of ageism and discrimination.
This Older Persons Bill will, among other things, aim to protect, promote and safeguard the rights of older persons, combat ageism, and transform negative stereotypes.
This private members’ bill consequently contradicts the spirit of this imminent bill.
“MANEPO shares similar sentiments with some quarters that amending a constitution is quite a serious matter and should ordinarily seek to advance and protect the public interest rather than private interests,” reads the conclusion of the communiqué in part
