The Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has embarked on a sensitisation campaign to promote lawful political engagement and strengthen rule of law ahead of future electoral cycles.
During the past week, the office conducted orientation sessions in Ntcheu, Thyolo, Zomba and Mangochi in the Southern Region, Kasungu District and Nkhotakota in the Central Region and Nkhata Bay and Rumphi in the Northern Region, enlightening political stakeholders on their legal obligations and ethical standards as outlined in the Political Parties Act of 2018.
In an interview on Friday, Registrar of Political Parties Kizito Tenthani said elections are not merely procedural events, but are guided by a clear legal framework designed to promote transparency, accountability, and democratic integrity.
He has also been unpacking the Act while highlighting what constitutes handouts among the several key features specified by the law.
sessions. | ORPP
Among critical legal requirements, the registrar highlighted the need to notify his office within 14 days of any changes to their party constitutions as failure to comply attracts a fine of K10 million, with an additional K500 000 charged per day of delay.
Section 41(1) of the Act defines a handout as “transactions whereby political parties, bodies, candidates or any other person distribute private goods, cash, gifts and other items to a person as an enticement to vote for the political party or the candidate”.
Tenthani said this means that anything given with the intention of influencing a voter’s choice, whether money, food, clothes, or other personal items, is considered a handout and prohibited by law.
“The electoral work that we perform comes with an aim so it is crucial for the office to unpack that aim so that it is fully understood by all stakeholders,” he said.
During the meetings, the registrar also told the stakeholders to remain vigilant and report violations of the law while underscoring that the integrity of the country’s democratic processes depends on shared tasks.
The sessions brought together politicians from various parties, traditional leaders, key officials from the district councils, Malawi Police Service, Malawi Electoral Commission, National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust and National Registration Bureau.
In a separate interview, Nice Trust executive director Gray Kalindekafe said his organisation remains a strategic stakeholder in ensuring the Act is popularised.
He said: “We have offices across the country including Likoma with over 10 000 volunteers and employees so we believe we are a crucial institution to help the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to unpack the Act for citizens to fully understand.”
Ministry of Justice spokesperson Frank Namangale described the office’s initiative as timely, saying its messaging would make a significant impact on political parties.
He said this is so because it targets influential groups such as political leaders, traditional authorities, and key officials from various electoral stakeholders.
Enacted in 2018, the Political Parties Act established the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and mandates all political parties to register formally and adhere to strict regulations or risk deregistration.
