Bill proposes funding for all parties in Parliament

Registered political parties represented in the National Assembly by at least one member of Parliament (MP) shall be entitled to receive State funding in proportion to the number of MPs by which it is represented, proposes the Political Parties Bill.

The Bill, which seeks to regulate political party financing, also proposes that every party that receives funding from the State shall allow such funding to be audited annually by an independent auditor appointed by Parliament.

Currently, the Constitution provides for State funding for political parties with more than 10 percent of the national vote.

The Bill also stipulates that every registered political party may collect membership fees from its members.

It also proposes that every registered political party may, for the purposes of financing its activities, appeals for and receives voluntary donations from any individual or organisation, in and outside Malawi, provided that the source of every donation, exceeding K1 million from an individual donor and K2 million from an organisation shall, within 30 days of its receipt, be disclosed to the Registrar of Political Parties by the political party concerned.

Mafunde president George Nnesa welcomed the proposed bill, saying it will contribute to the success of political parties in the country.