Ntcheu people want Section 64 back

People in Ntcheu want Parliament to bring back Section 64 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi so that voters can have powers to call for early elections when the Member of Parliament (MP) is not performing to people’s expectations.

The Section which gave powers to constituents to recall the non-performing MP was removed from the constitution mid 1990s.

The constituents demanded the Section back on Wednesday during an interface meeting which was organised by Evangelical Association of Malawi (EAM) to give platform to Ntcheu Bwanje South constituents to ask questions to their MP, Godwin Kanjere.

One of the constituents, Manwell Chisinga said: “We want Section 64 to be back in the Constitution of Malawi because it will be easy for constituents to immediately remove their MP when he or she is not working towards constituents’ expectations.”

However, Kanjere told the constituents that no MP can allow bringing back Section 64 in the Constitution because it is not good on the side of MPs.

“No MP including myself can allow this Section to be back in the Constitution because that will be like chopping my own foot. Being an MP is like an employment so who wants to lose a job? Calling for this Section is a non-starter,” said Kanjere.

Kanjere said the best way to remove the MP who is failing his or her duties in a democracy is through elections.

EAM project officer Pastor Timothy Zimba said the interface meeting was part of the organisation’s project called Citizen and Policy Engagement which seeks to empower the citizenry so that they actively participate in local and national development.

The constituents also advised their MP not to support legalisation of homosexuality and abortion if they are introduced in Parliament. n