UDF protests qualifications for MEC commissioners
The United Democratic Front (UDF) has protested an amendment in the Malawi Electoral Commission Act prescribing a bachelor’s degree as the minimum qualification for one to be appointed commissioner.
Reacting to the Electoral Commission Act (Amendment) Bill, UDF spokesperson on the Bill Esther Jolobala faulted the provision for not stating challenges being faced with the current status.
She said people can have qualifications, but fail to discharge duties.
Jolobala, who is Machinga East member of Parliament (MP), stressed that education qualification does not really matter for one to be a commissioner.
She said former MEC chairperson Jane Ansah was highly educated, but was accused of failing to manage the 2019 election whose presidential race was nullified the High Court of Malawi sitting as a Constitutional Court due to irregularities and other flaws.
Jolobala said MEC does not have mandate to dictate to parties who should be in the commission.
“Political parties should be able to choose who should be in the commission. By coming up with a minimum qualification MEC is trying to dictate who should be a commissioner,” said Jolobala.
Mangochi South MP Lilian Patel, who is also UDF president, spoke against the minimum education qualification.
She said the amendment is targeting to disadvantage women and asked that the education qualification amendment be removed.
But Minister of Justice Titus Mvalo said it is not right to say the amendment is targeting women.He said women should not be undermined as there are a number of them who are educated.
“There are women who are educated and can be commissioners. The amendment should also encourage women to get qualifications and now there are many universities,” said Mvalo
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesperson on the Bill Yusuf Nthenda said DPP has no problem with the amendments.
However, he said if MEC decides to embark on electronic voting it will be difficult for others to vote online.
Mvalo said the paper voting will still apply when electronic voting is introduced.
Parliament on Wednesday passed the Electoral Commission Act Amendment Bill which has put a bachelor’s degree as a minimum qualification for one to be appointed commissioner. The degree has to be obtained from an institution recognised or accredited under the National Council for Higher Education Act.
The amendment has also empowered the commission to establish and devise other means of voting, voting materials and registration of voters’ materials.
