Mangochi West member of Parliament (MP) Reuben Kanyama (Independent) has proposed that only registered voters should benefit from general support and safety net programmes, including social cash transfers and public works.
Speaking during the funeral of village head Sumani of Traditional Authority Chamba in Mangochi on Monday, he said such an arrangement would encourage more Malawians of voting age to go out and register when Malawi Electoral Commission re-opens its centres for the September 16 2025 General Elections supplementary voter registration.
Kanyama observed that most beneficiaries of various initiatives are people who do not actively take part in choosing leaders through voting.
Said the MP: “Before reaching out with various support, it is important to know first whether that person has a voter’s registration certificate because voters are the ones that should be prioritised.
“There are some people who don’t vote, but they are in the forefront asking MPs for help. We shouldn’t tolerate that.”
Kanyama’s sentiments come at a time when some political party leaders are using voter registration certificates as a condition for people to benefit from various initiatives.
For instance, on December 7 this year, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) through the sponsorship of Minister of Labour Vitumbiko Mumba, organised a youth music concert at Civo Stadium in Lilongwe where about 16 artists were lined up. Patrons were required to produce voter registration certificates to get in.
But governance scholar Andrew Kaponya and political analyst Victor Chipofya have faulted the use of voter’s registration as a requirement for one to benefit from support.
Kapony a , w ho i s a developmental studies lecturer at Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences, noted that incentivising the votes registration is doing injustice to the country.
He said: “A registration certificate does not qualify someone to access social services in this country, but the eligibility of social services is being a bonafide citizen of Malawi.”
On his part, Chipofya, who is also a lecturer at Blantyre International University, observed that it is morally wrong to support or favour someone because of a voter’s registration certificate.
He said as much as there is need to encourage people to register and vote, people also have the right not to vote.
In the September 16 2025 General Election voters will elect president, MPs and councillors.
