National News

Party, voter disconnect fuelling apathy—expert

Democracy Works Foundation (DWF) regional director and chief of party Augustine Magolowondo has mentioned unfulfilled campaign promises as a recipe for voter apathy as the electorate feels disconnected from political parties.

He said this in an interview in Lilongwe yesterday on the sidelines of a cross-party workshop targeting six political parties represented in Parliament.

Magolowondo said most political parties in the country do not have relevant structures and policies that reflect how they would respond to people’s needs, a development that is slowly contributing to citizens’ loss of interest to participate in elections.

He said: “The danger is when political parties disconnect with the wider membership, people start to question why they should continue to register and vote, and whether elections are important.

“When political parties lose relevance and trust they disappear, and that is why DWF wants to build their capacities because we can’t have a well-organised representative democracy without well organised parties.”

Magolowondo said most parties in opposition also lack a clearly defined development agenda, making them unaccountable to the electorate and wider society.

Since the first post-one-party local government elections in November 2000 where the country recorded a turnout of about 14 percent, the by-elections, particularly of ward councillors, have been characterised by low turnouts.

In the October 2021 by-elections in Lilongwe, Dedza, Nkhotakota, Mzimba and Balaka, out of a combined 87 271 voters in the three constituencies and one ward, about 42 253 turned out for polling, representing 48.42 percent.

Malawi Electoral Commission records show that Bembeke Ward in Dedza District Council, with a 9.36 percent voter turnout during a November 2016 by-election, was the lowest.

In an interview, People’s Party administrative secretary Ben Chakhame said it is unfortunate that what most parties promise in their manifestos is not implemented.

On his part, deputy director of strategic planning for Malawi Congress Party Ken Kandodo said the party is able to identify the needs of people through its structures.

Taking her turn, UTM Party secretary general Patricia Kaliati stressed the need for both political parties and their members to be conversant with their manifestos.

DWF is implementing a five-year United States Agency for International Development-funded political parties and elections programme called Political Parties for Resilient and Inclusive Democracies in Southern Africa.

The engagement yesterday allowed the parties to share insights and discuss key emerging issues are relevant to the country as it gears up for the 2025 General Elections.

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