The Human Rights Defenders Coalition has announced plans to hold demonstrations if President Peter Mutharika does not assent to the electoral bills.
The remarks after the five day ultimatum the grouping gave to Mutharika comes to an end.
Parliament passed bills to do with the country’s laws in line with the Constitutional Court ruling on the presidential elections earlier last month and the HRDC demanded that Mutharika assents or makes a statement on the matter in five days.
Recently, Mutharika’s aides confirmed his office had received the bills and the recent report by the Public Appointments Committee which proposed the firing of commissioners Malawi Electoral Commission.
In an interview, Macdonald Sembereka, HRDC Executive member described as unfortunate the silence by Mutharika on the matter.
According to Sembereka, Mutharika’s failure to publicly respond to the matters demonstrates his lack of interest in good governance.
‘’We are moving to meet this week on the matter. We feel that he (Mutharika) is demonstrating a lack of interest in this issue. We called him to make the statement and sign the bills in five days despite the discretion he has of three weeks,’’ he said.
According to Sembereka, there is need for the nation to move forward saying Mutharika stands to demonstrate that if he reacts to the matter.
Last week, parliament passed the Parliamentary and Presidential Elections (amendment) Act which sets Tuesday, 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.