Tag Archives: Registrar of Political Parties

Politics

#MalawiDecide2025: Political parties warned against handouts

Maravi Post Author

By Steven Godfrey Mkweteza

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Registrar for political parties in the country, Kizito Tenthani has warned political parties against handouts, saying the law would catch up with them.

Speaking in Blantyre during sensitization meeting on handouts for the political parties in Blantyre, Tenthani expressed concern with the growing cases of handouts perpetuated by the political parties which he said its against the law.

Tenthani said the office of registrar of political parties has currently registered a total of over 180 cases of handouts since the campaign trials started for the September 16, tripartite elections.

“Generally, its an issue to do with the mindset change. The culture of handouts has been deeply rooted for long and surely, will take some time to stop,” he said

According to Tenthani, the process of prosecuting the offenders takes long to conclude due to the understaffing of his office.

“We are very few in this office, a development which contributes to long process of concluding the cases and bring the offenders to book.

“We can’t be everywhere where political party rallies are conducted. This contributes to unidentified and reported cases of handouts,” he said

Among others, Tenthani said he was satisfied with the levels of compliance among the major political parties after being warned against the tendency.

“For example, we issued a letter of warning to Malawi congress party leaders after we learnt that they were ditching out 50,000’s to various sectors of the society and they stopped,” said Tenthani

However, Tenthani said his office receive sketchy information regarding handouts, which he said contributes to long process of concluding the cases.

“Others just report to us information against a contender based on jealousy and malice,” he said

The registrar said the country would likely conduct by elections after the September 16 tripartite elections after some contenders lose the court cases regarding handouts.

“The process its continuance even if a suspect has won this forthcoming elections. We will still go on with our investigations and if we find him, her guilty, the law provides that he or she prosecuted in the court of law,” he said

The office of registrar of political parties was established under the act of Parliament in December 2018.

However, the office was started implementing the law few month ago.

Politics

Political Parties Registrar Kizito Tenthani’s incompetence exposed in failing to tame handouts

Burnett Munthali

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-In a revealing series of exchanges, the Registrar of Political Parties, Kizito Tenthani, has come under scrutiny for what has been described as an evasive and disrespectful approach to serious journalistic inquiry on a matter of national concern.

The controversy arose from an exclusive interview request by The Maravi Post, seeking the Registrar’s official response to allegations that President Lazarus Chakwera is distributing cash handouts to registered voters at State residences — namely Kamuzu and Sanjika Palaces — during the campaign period.

Initially, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) was approached with the same questionnaire on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at 22:00 hours.

MEC Spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa acknowledged the request but redirected the matter to the Registrar of Political Parties, citing jurisdictional boundaries.

Following that, the same questionnaire was sent directly to Mr. Tenthani at 23:06, with a requested response deadline of 08:00 the following morning.

Despite the urgency of the issue, which touches on electoral integrity, abuse of incumbency, and the principles of free and fair elections, the Registrar responded several hours later with a vague comment that he had “addressed the matter in today’s Nation” newspaper.

When pressed again for direct and exclusive feedback, Mr. Tenthani simply remarked that the issue was “contextual,” adding that he could not pass judgment based on the information provided.

He further stated that his office had taken interest in the matter and was looking into it, but stopped short of offering any substantive or official position.

After a full day without a clear response, this publication informed the Registrar that the story would be published without his input — a decision that prompted a sharp and sarcastic reaction.

The Registrar accused this reporter of seeking a “proper” answer to fit a preconceived narrative, further stating, “Go ahead, sir. Write the story the way you wanted to.”

He went on to belittle the journalist’s comprehension, claiming the questions posed were misunderstood, and distancing himself from any meaningful engagement.

Such a tone was met with a firm and professional rebuke.

This publication reminded Mr. Tenthani that the request for an interview was extended in good faith and had followed due process, including initial contact with MEC and delayed publication solely to allow him time to respond.

The Registrar’s dismissive attitude was described as a stark example of the growing pattern of arrogance, avoidance, and bureaucratic hostility in some government offices when faced with legitimate questions of public accountability.

Government officials, especially those entrusted with overseeing political processes, are duty-bound to provide timely, accurate, and respectful responses to journalists, who serve as a critical bridge between authorities and the people.

It was emphasized that government institutions are not private clubs but public entities — answerable to citizens through the media and other democratic channels.

This publication further warned that such attitudes only erode public trust, reinforce perceptions of partisanship, and undermine the professional integrity expected of state institutions.

The Registrar later issued a half-hearted apology, acknowledging that perhaps he had not responded as expected and admitting that “we have chatted enough.”

While his gesture was noted, the damage had already been done — with his earlier conduct painting a picture of a public officer unwilling to engage transparently on matters directly tied to the conduct of the presidency during an election cycle.

The central issue — the alleged distribution of handouts from State House — remains unresolved.

But the episode has highlighted a deeper problem: the culture of defensiveness, denial, and disrespect that continues to thrive in public institutions tasked with upholding democratic values.

As the 2025 general elections draw closer, public officials must be reminded that journalists are not enemies — but essential stakeholders in the democratic process.

They must also remember that accountability is not optional.

The day will come — and indeed it always does — when those in power will need a journalist. When that day comes, history will remember how they responded when they were first asked to speak.

Lifestyle, Politics

CDEDI chides Political Parties Registrar Namelo shameful attempt to block parties’ financing disclosure

Maravi Post Reporter
Namiwa angry with Registrar of Political Parties Chikumbutso Namelo

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil rights body Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is angry with the Registrar of Political Parties Chikumbutso Namelo for shameful attempt to frustrate political parties’ disclosure on financing.

On May 17, 2021, CDEDI wrote the registrar, challenging his office to make available the sources of all private funding to the major political parties in Malawi, in line with the Political Parties Act of 2018; Section 37 of the Republican Constitution; and the Access to Information Act.

CDEDI’s anger comes after Namelo responded by asking the watchdog to furnish him with its registration details as a precondition to making available the information on parties financing.

The organization demanded that this information should be in the form of cash, assets and in kind received as donations within and outside the country.

But Namelo, in his response dated May 19, 2021, also demanded that CDEDI should produce evidence of its registration with the Malawi Government before he could release the information.

“You wrote us as CDEDI and accordingly, I would like to request you to kindly furnish us with your organization’s registration details as we have been unable to find the same in our records. For your information, it is our procedure to verify the registration status of any registered entity before attending to any application or request made by the entity,” demands the Registrar of Political Parties.

“I look forward to receiving evidence of registration of your organization soonest so that I can substantively respond to your letter,” adds Namelo.

But when he addressed journalists in the capital Lilongwe on Friday,May 28, 2021 CDEDI executive director Sylvester Namiwa accused the Registrar of Political Parties of playing some old and archaic tricks in its efforts to ignore their demands for disclosure of information on political party financing.

“Instead of responding to the call, CDEDI regrets to inform Malawians that Mr. Chikumbutso Namelo, who is the current Registrar of Political Parties, responded by asking us to furnish him with our registration details as a precondition to making available the information we are seeking. We find such a response as a mockery to Malawians, total disrespect of the office he is occupying, and a futile attempt to defend the indefensible,” said Namiwa.

He reiterated that disclosure of information declared by political parties as regards party financing is the only sure way of addressing the root cause of deep-rooted corruption in the country, which according to studies, claims 30 percent of the national budget.

But Namiwa said as a law-abiding citizen and non-governmental organization, CDEDI submitted its registration certificate no. 01/251 on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

“Following this submission, we have extended our ultimatum with two days, and we are expecting positive response from the registrar’s office on or before Monday, May 31, 2021. Should our request hit a blank wall, CDEDI will still proceed to seek legal intervention on our demands, which are enshrined in the country’s constitution,” he said.

CDEDI wants disclosure information on financing from political parties including Malawi Congress Party (MCP), UTM, Democrat Progressive Party (DPP), Peoples Party (PP), AFORD, United Democratic Front (UDF) and among others.