The Public Affairs Committee (PAC) has encouraged some to political parties in Malawi to hold conventions when electing party leaders.
PAC said this in a statement released in Blantyre during its meeting meant to deliberate on issues concerning institutional strengthening.
“Since last year, Malawi has witnessed political parties holding conventions to elect their leaders. PAC supports such democratic mechanisms and believes that conventions remain lifeblood for strengthening intraparty democracy,” reads the statement in part.
It says political parties need to continue holding conventions in a fair manner to enhance competition.
“It is the view of PAC that democracy should begin within political parties themselves before it can translate into intra-party democracy,” reads the statement signed by PAC acting chairperson Sheikh Imraan Shareef and publicity secretary the Reverend Maurice Munthali.
Other issues discussed at the meeting concern its annual general assembly to take place from May 21 to 23 2013 to elect new members and PAC’s involvement in the tripartite elections.
The organisation urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to speed up its preparation of the 2014 elections as delays bring a lot of implications.
