Two things are certain in this electoral mess: Firstly, The issue of succession and transfer of power in Malawi needs to be seriously addressed in our Constitution!! The current prolonged delay calls for some interim arrangement WITHOUT an incumbent President seemingly having expansive powers to dictate terms on the outcome of an election. Here I am taking issue with Joyce Banda calling for annulment of results and calling for new polls in 90 days, which was rightly rejected by our quasi independent courts! MEC must determine the outcome of an election because they are constitutionally mandated to do so! Secondly, political parties need to move towards more coalition building and not self defeatist Winner Takes All attitude. THE FIRST PAST THE POST SYSTEM is the most undemocratic system of elections and is killing the idea of pluralism. After every election, the sense of loss is profound for losers because the threshold for winners is so low with this system! Malawi is teetering on the edge. May whichever government comes in seriously promote debate on these matters for the good of the country!!
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 02:13:00 +0000