…CCJP calls Mutharika to assent to electoral bills
President Peter Mutharika risks being impeached over the current electoral reforms situation, a law expert has said.
The observations have been made at a time there are growing calls for Mutharika to assent to the electoral reform bills.
Mutharika has less than a week before the expiry of the required 21 days to make a stance over the laws.
But when speaking to MIJ Online, Professor of Law at Chancellor College, Garton Kamchedzera said the president needs to treat the bills with urgency.
Kamchedzera is of the view that in an event Mutharika fails to assent to the bills in the stated period, he is at risk of being impeached.
“I don’t know what he [Mutharika] would be doing in 21 days to say that he is still going through the papers. So if he fails to assent to the bills, he will be in precarious situation and he will be tantamount to the breach of the constitution making himself impeachable, said Kamchedzera.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace has joined other sectors in calling Mutharika to sign the bills.
CCJP made the call in statement titled “Malawi Political uncertainty: A call for the Noble Consideration of the Common Good”
In an interview, CCJP National Coordinator Bonface Chibwana said Mutharika’s urgency in acting on the electoral bills is paramount in the present time in light of the fresh Presidential election.
“The Head of State should rise above personal and sectional interests and act expeditiously on the electoral bills submitted to him. This is a very critical step towards resolving the political uncertainties Malawi is in, and making the country more stable and peaceful,”. Chibwana said.
At passing the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections (amendment) Act, the house setTuesday, in the third week of May, 2020 as the date of the elections.
The amendment also includes provision for holding of run-off presidential election if no candidate in presidential elections gets half or more of the valid votes.
Following the amendment, the next general elections will be held on Tuesday, in the third week of May, 2025 while the National Assembly and local government authorities elected on 21st May, 2019 shall stand dissolved on 20th March, 2025.
The provisions were also in the Constitutional Amendment Bills which was shot down last week as it required two thirds majority to pass.
In addition, the house also passed the Electoral Commission (Amendment) Bill which states that the Chairperson of the Commission should be nominated by the Judicial Service Commission and be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Public Appointments Committee.
It further states that the appointment of other members of the Commission shall be on recommendation of the Public Appointments Committee following nominations from political parties represented in Parliament.
*Additional reporting by Benadetta Mia