MEC supports manifesto alignment to MW2063

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Chifundo Kachale has spoken in support of the requirement that political parties must align their manifestos to the Malawi 2063 (MW2063), saying the provision would ensure continuity of various development projects.

He made the position at Mzuzu University on Friday during a public lecture he delivered on democracy, law reform and preparation for the 2025 Tripartite Elections.

Kachale said the thinking is that there is no continuous disjuncture of development projects whenever there is a change of government.

He, however, said it is a discussion that could be advanced with more stakeholders and the public.

“Without such a document, maybe the discontinuity will still persist and it is Malawi which stands to lose. We want to be on a trajectory to take us to the ambition articulated in MW2063.

“But if people believe the arrangement is inadequate, that is a discussion they can undertake and come up with a process that ensures that as a nation, there are basic minimums we want to attain,” said Kachale.

The National Planning Commission (NPC) is legally mandated by the Political Parties Amendment Act of 2022 to certify party manifestos and make sure that they are aligned to the MW2063.

Speaking in separate interviews, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the People’s Party (PP) through  their spokespersons rallied behind the legal requirement despite other parties and analysts criticising it.

UDF publicity secretary Yusuf Mwawa said they have no problem with the requirement. He indicated that they find the issues raised by NPC generic, saying they were consulted by the commission during the formulation of the development blueprint.

“The concerns of uniformity do not arise because manifestos are basically the same but it is a question of implementation. We will craft an issue and a people-based manifesto,” he said.

PP spokesperson Ackson Kalaile Banda said it is a legal requirement that all political party manifestos must align with the MW2063 agenda, and such their party is not spared. He said they have been in touch with the NPC on the same.

Recently, Alliance for Democracy president Enock Chihana dismissed the requirement, describing it as a joke and limitation to policy scopes.

He said it is strange for a government agency to dictate what political parties should have in their manifestos as it is the parties which form government and not vice versa.

Earlier, the NPC through its spokesperson Thom Khanje said all political parties have agreed to the arrangement and will be taking their manifestos to the commission for review and certification.

The commission said parties have until January 22 2025 to submit their manifestos for review and certification ahead of receipt of nomination papers for presidential candidates by the MEC for the September 2025 polls.

The amended Section 12A of the Political Parties Act indicates that the NPC shall issue a certificate of compliance where it is satisfied that a manifesto is aligned to the national development agenda.