DPP salutes Malawi government on 2014 tripartite elections

Opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has saluted government for its unshaken determination to hold tripartite elections in 2014.

DPP Regional Governor for the North, Nick Aladini Masebo made the commendation Wednesday during a public hearing on wards demarcation organized by Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) at Chitipa Boma.

MEC held a public hearing to give platform to election stakeholders in the district to give their feedback on the new wards demarcated in 2010.  The long awaited meeting gave the stakeholders a rare opportunity to critically screen the wards and  make  corrections  on the names of the wards and centres.

Masebo, who is also Member of Parliament for Chitipa North, said government deserves commendation for making a bold decision to run the  presidential, parliamentary and local government elections simultaneously in 2014, despite sailing through economic hardships.

He said government has demonstrated its  appreciation  that the difficult time the nation is navigating through, which needs much of its attention, cannot surpass the requirement to have the tripartite elections that would usher in the long awaited ward councilors.

“The government has the prerogative to weigh the options. In this regard,   it could have shelved the elections [local government] to unknown date and cite  economic hardships haunting  the nation as the reason,” he said.

Masebo, who has just been promoted to lead the DPP Regional high office, following the defection of former regional governor, Revered Christopher Mzomera Ngwira  to ruling People’s Party, (PP) added that  the consensus reached by the government to hold tripartite elections smacks of   great importance it attaches to democratic values  and good governance.

“As DPP, we commend government for heeding  calls from patriotic Malawians who have been pressing for local government elections to have councilors who are key in enhancement of development in the communities,” he said.

The Parliamentarian, however, observed that holding three elections at   once was not an easy task. He said the process  requires  a lot of resources and special commitment  to ensure credible elections.

He then  warned government against compromising the electoral process by among other things,  providing  meager funding so that some crucial  activities lined up in the process in the run up to elections suffer.

The guest of  honour at the function, Commissioner Reverend Allan Chiphiko said it was the wish of his commission to ensure that the 2014 tripartite elections are not only free and fair but also highly credible.

“ As a commission, we are determined and well geared to do our best so that the 2014 tripartite elections are the best ever and  serve as a model to other countries,” he said.

Chitipa District has five constituencies and ten wards spread across  its five traditional authorities.

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