Tag Archives: Political Parties Act

Politics

Usi’s ‘Odya Zake Alibe Mulandu ‘ party not registered

Chisomo Phiri

By Chisomo Phiri

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost )-It has emerged that Vice President Dr. Michael Usi’s polical party ‘Odya Zake Alibe Mulandu ‘ is not registered under the Political Parties Act.

According to Nation Publications Limited(NPL ), Registrar of Political Parties Kizito Tenthani confirmed that his office has not issued any certificate to ‘Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu Party’.

Tenthani said to NPL: “As far as we are concerned, we don’t have that [Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu] party. We haven’t registered them. We still have 23 registered political parties and we will update you whenever there are some changes.

“But if they [Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu] decide to apply [for party registration], we are going to treat it like any other application. So, if we will be satisfied, we will register it, and if we will not be satisfied we will not.”

Section 12 (1) of Political Parties Act states that for a political party to be registered, it should, among others, consist of not less than 100 people who are eligible to vote in each of the country’s districts.

Further, Section 12(2) of the same law requires that the application for registration be signed by the office bearers of the political party and specify the name of the party.

The application also must be accompanied by two copies of the constitution, rules and manifesto of the party and particulars of the registered party’s office.

The amended Section 12A of the Political Parties Act also requires the National Planning Commission (NPC) to issue a certificate of compliance that a political party’s manifesto is aligned to the national development agenda.

‘Odya Zake Alibe Mlandu’ started as a movement in the run up to the 2019 Tripartite Elections, but went into oblivion in February 2019 after UTM Party president and the country’s former Vice-President Saulos Chilima picked him as his running mate in the nullified presidential election.

The revival of the movement and subsequent transition into a political party comes months after Usi chickened out of the UTM Party presidential race last November while serving as interim president, having replaced Chilima who died in a military plane crash last June.

Opinion, Top News

Desperate time; Is DPP a sacred cow on Malawi’s Political Parties Act on handouts during campaign?

Maravi Post Reporter

DPP handouts against Political Act on handouts during elections

By Nenenji Mlangeni

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) seems to be under panic just 33 days before Malawians go to general elections on May 21, this year.

This is evidenced through unrealistic promises coupled with handouts making to electorates when conducting political rallies across the nation.

The party gurus are busy dishing out handouts; bicycles, food items to woo voters instead of giving them real developmental agenda.

DPP handouts against Political Act during elections-

Being the party running the shows of the country, could be in better place respecting the law on Political parties Act during elections on handouts?

Why executing agencies are just quite on DPP’s misconduct?

What is if the same misconduct done by opposition parties UTM Party and Malawi Congress Party (MCP)?

 

Malawi, Politics, Top News

CMD optimistic on Political Parties Act to be gazetted before elections

Lloyd M’bwana 1 Comment

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The Centre for Democracy (CMD), a representative of political parties in Parliament expressed optimism that the passed Political Parties Act will be gazetted before the next year’s tripartite elections.

The assurance comes after seven months have elapsed after President Peter Mutharika assented the bill into law.

According to CMD, the Act intends to bring sanity of political parties operation in the country for promotion of democracy.

Among other key components in the including disclosure of  sources of funds, de-register and register of political parties.

Addressing the news conference on Thursday in the capital Lilongwe, CDM Executive Director Kizito Tenthani said the country’s authority was ready with the Act to be gazetted.

Tenthani disclosed that the ministry of justice was still making further consultation on the law before its fully implemented.

He therefore observed that once the law is put into use, will sanitize political parties operation  in the country.

“Very shortly, the Minister of Justice will  gazette the law into full usage before the elections. What has remained is the minister to appoint a date for gazette. This is based on numerous feedback interactions we have had with our office.

“This is the law which will sanitize political parties operations. We don’t want every Jim and jack to own political parties while on the other side making the law friendly to the nation, ” assures Tenthani.

Last month Justice Minister, Samuel Tembenu assured the nation that the Political Parties Act, will be gazetted before the next year’s tripartite elections.

Tembenu said he would soon be meeting with leaders of political parties to ensure that they are ready for the law to come into effect.

“I did not want to just appoint the date (for gazetting) before political parties are ready. I would like to have a meeting with them first. But I can assure you it will be done before the elections,” Tembenu said.

The Political Parties Act, which will replace and old Political Parties Registration and Regulation Act, spells requirements that parties must meet in order to be registered and what they must do to avoid being de-registered.