(NYASATIMES) Malawi should learn from UK election – law expert

Malawi should learn from UK election – law expert
By Nyasa Times
Published: May 6, 2010

The election of a new government in Britain, should serve as a lesson, to African countries including Malawi, on how to conduct elections, in a democratic dispensation, a law expert at the University of Malawi, Edge Kanyongolo, has said Kanyongolo, who is the associate professor of Law, at Chancellor College, a constituent college of the University of Malawi in Zomba told Capital Radio that government needed to change its stand on denying the opposition the use of state broadcasters, in an election.

He said Malawi should open up the public media, TV Malawi and MBC radio to nurture the country’s democracy.

Kanyongolo, who is also the dean of the faculty of law, said the process by which the UK polls had been prepared, the actual polling and the aftermath, should serve as lessons to Malawi, on how the government could level the playing field, for all players to participate.

According to him, letting the opposition use state resources, creates a fair environment, as voters are provided with enough information, on the policies and agendas of the various political parties.