MPs pledge full support to Tripartite Bill

Parliamentarians across Malawi have pledged to support the Tripartite Bill if tabled in Parliament which starts sitting this Monday.

This is according to findings of a survey the Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) Media Task Force conducted on Friday in Malawi’s commercial city, Blantyre, on 2014 elections.

The task force made phone calls to 100 MPs out of the 193 legislators and asked each MP whether they would support the bill if tabled and the survey revealed that 92 out of 100 MPs confirmed their support.

According to chairperson of the task force Deogratias M’mana, the survey targeted 150 MPs, but managed to reach 100 MPs purely due to their accessibility on their phones.

“Our goal was to talk to as many MPs as we can. As such, our sample was open-ended. But our intention was limited because not all the MPs were accessible. Some MPs phones were switched off. Others went unanswered whereas others left their phones with their spouses and relatives,” he said.

Of the eight that did not support the bill, Thyolo Thava MP Lifred Nawena said he was not convinced that the country needs councillors.

Seven other MPs said they were undecided while others said they were not conversant with the bill.

Notable names supporting the bill include Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) interim president Professor Peter Mutharika, DPP vice-president Jean Kalirani, Mzimba North MP Goodall Gondwe, George Chaponda, Finance Minister Ken Lipenga, Energy and Mining Minister Cassim Chilumpha and Transport Minister Sidik Mia.

Last week, Attorney General Ralph Kasambara assured the country that government is set to hold the tripartite elections in 2014.

Meanwhile, Mesn on Friday held a meeting in Mzuzu with members of civil society organisations and journalists.

Mesn coordinator Robert Silungwe said early consultations are needed to be assured of the elections in 2014.

“As you know, the Local Government Elections have been postponed several times. Now government has assured that they will take place in 2014 and we have intensified consultations to make sure that they do not fail this time,” said Silungwe.