MCP, PP caution govt on 2019 elections
Opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and People’s Party (PP) have asked government to be practical in ensuring peace and reducing tensions in the run up to the 2019 Tripartite Elections.
Speaking on the sidelines of a three-day Collaborative Leadership and Dialogue (CLD) Training in Lilongwe that wound up yesterday, MCP and PP representatives said there is need for government to have practical ways of reducing political tension in the run up to the elections
In his remarks, MCP deputy secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka said it is critical for government to commit to ensuring peace in the country, particularly in the use of Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC).
“The way MBC is doing its programming, the content is provocative and it is a recipe for conflict. If we sit here and have a classroom training without practical application, this could be a waste of resources,” he said.
“Government also needs to look at the booking of political rally venues seriously as history has shown that ruling parties use their power to organise their rallies closer to those of opposition parties, which also brings tension, and this is dangerous,” he said.
On his part, PP secretary general Ibrahim Matola stressed on the opening up of MBC to other parties.
Speaking during the official opening on Monday, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Samuel Tembenu said it is only when political parties fully understand the real meaning and spirit behind collaboration and dialogue and start applying them in their daily activities that peace and sanity prevails.
He said as government, they will ensure that MBC just like any other media house, abides by the Communications Act to ensure there are no tensions in the country.
The training is an undertaking of Malawi Government through the National Peace Architecture in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) to foster a common understanding of the national vision for Malawi. It is being funded by UNDP.
