By Jones Gadama
Professor of Law at the Catholic University of Malawi, Clement Ng’ong’ola, has called for a review of the Constitution to trim down the powers of the President.
Speaking at the ongoing two-day constitutional conference organized by the Malawi Law Society and the University of Malawi, Ng’ong’ola argued that the current system leaves too much power in the hands of the President.
Ng’ong’ola specifically pointed to the President’s authority in appointing key public officers, including Cabinet members, the Attorney General, Auditor General, and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
He noted inconsistencies in the checks and balances applied to these appointments, citing the example of the DPP’s appointment being subject to the Public Appointments Committee (PAC) while the Attorney General’s is not.
The professor argued that it would be wise to subject all senior government appointments to some form of recommendation or oversight. He also suggested that the Constitution should clearly state that the President appoints judges based on recommendations from the Judicial Service Commission.
The conference is also discussing other critical issues, including presidential immunity and whether Malawi should adopt a hybrid system of government or retain its current pure presidential system. Other notable speakers at the conference include Justice Redson Kapindu, retired General Vincent Nundwe, and Nandin Patel.
The two-day constitutional conference aims to revisit and review the Constitution, 30 years after its amendment in 1994.
The discussions are expected to shape the country’s governance and constitutional framework.