PP is disorganised—Dulani

• As voter apathy affect by-elections

Political analyst Boniface Dulani says People’s Party, founded by former president Joyce Banda, is a disorganized party and it is high time it started working on putting its house in order.

“No party goes into an election while its house is in disarray and expects to win. What PP is doing is disastrous,” said Dulani.

Dulani was reacting to the results of the Tuesday by-elections which saw PP losing two seats it previously won in May 20 tripartite elections to Democratic People’s Party (DPP). The two wards of Khwawa and Chibanja in the Northern Region were won by PP before they fell vacant after deaths of the former councillors.

Even PP’s spokesperson Ken Msonda seems to agree with Dulani’s sentiments that PP’s loss has come as no surprise but, he blamed it on Malawi Electoral Commission which he said he does not trust.

“We lost trust in MEC long time ago, I have said it and will say it again. This election was not fair and credible,” he said.

Msonda cited incidences such as DPP giving out money to voters during election and opposition monitors not allowed to participate in vote counting as one of the unfairness in the by-elections.

However, MEC chairperson Maxon Mbendera said there has been no evidence on the allegation.

“This election was free and fair, MEC has nothing to hide. I urge all political parties and candidates to accept the outcome of the election as the expression, reflection and representation of the will of the people,” said Mbendera.

Mbendera advised those wishing to challenge the election results to do so in accordance with the laws of the country

On poor voter turnout Dulani attributed the voter apathy to lack of trust by voters and failure by the country’s political parties and MEC to make people recognise the importance of voting.

Reacting to the by-elections results where average voter turnout was said to be only at 25 percent, Dulani said voters see nothing enthusiastic to make them vote.

He quashed suggestions that the country should enact a law that would make voting compulsory.

“There are countries such as Singapore where voting is compulsory but they still don’t get a 100 percent voter turn out. Voting is a right and I don’t see any reason in forcing people to take part,” Dulani said.

On the other hand, Mbendera said he was disappointed with the low voter turnout as his office and Nice Trust worked tirelessly to civic educate voters in the of the importance of the election.

“The phenomenon of low voter turnout or voter apathy is very worrisome. The Commission left no stone unturned in ensuring that voters in the five wards were reached with voter information messages. This is not encouraging if compared to the turnout during the Tripartite Elections which was 70.7 percent,” he said.

Mbendera called on institutions of higher learning in the country to conduct a research on the causes of voter apathy.

Melia Likoswe Douglas of the DPP won the Central Ward, Bydon Katambika Msiska of the DPP won the Khwawa Ward, Henderson Alex Spoon of DPP won the Luchenza Ward while Charles Mlogera of MCP won the Chibanja Ward and Oliver Tayub of UDF the Msikisi Ward.

The government of Malawi fully funded the by-elections to the tune of K400 million ($724 638) kwacha.