Bingu rapes constitution –JZU

Bingu rapes constitution –JZU
By Nyasa Times
Published: May 25, 2011

Malawi’s opposition leader in Parliament John Zenus Ungapake (JZU) Tembo says he is exasperated with President Bingu wa Mutharika’s directive to the country’s electoral body not to hold Local Government’s Elections until 2014 describing it as a gross abuse of power, ‘unconstitutional’ and ‘unlawful.’

The revered Malawi Congress Party (MCP) leader says government’s decision to defer local elections barely months after the reopening the country’s Electoral Commission is not in line with good governance.

Tembo: Mutharika is afraid

“Holding of Local Government Elections is a constitutional prerequisite and one of the main tenets of democracy. Failing to do that is not only unconstitutional but also unlawful,” said the veteran politician.

He added: “All along we were wondering why the government was playing hide and seek on the matter. Now we know why. This explains it clearly.”

Tembo said that Mutharika is “afraid” of the local polls but hinted that what come may “he will face the challenge some day.”

The leader of opposition has since threatened that the opposition will take the government to task on the move.

“We’ll take the government to task on the matter in parliament,” says the opposition leader.

Malawi Electoral Support Network (MESN) has also greatly registered concern on the matter.

MESN chairperson, Aloysius Nthenda, said in a separate interview that his organization is disappointed with the government’s decision.

“We are very disappointed with this development,” said Nthenda adding: “Democracy in Malawi is but plummeting.”

Electoral Commission announced in a statement that the body will hold local polls until 2014 when the country will be holding Presidential and Parliamentary General Elections.

“The Malawi Electoral Commission wishes to inform the general public that following consultations with the President of the Republic of Malawi, the Government has decided to postpone the Local Government Elections to 2014.” reads the statement in totality.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) has said it is “greatly shocked” with the development.

HRCC acting executive director Reverend MacDonald Sembereka told Nyasa Times that that civil society in Malawi is mystified by president Mutharika and his government’s plan not to hold the local polls.

“We are baffled that government’s decisions are increasingly becoming unilateral. The decision is a gross disrespect for the aspirations of Malawians and a contravention of the very constitution which president Bingu wa Mutharika vowed to protect,” said the man of God-cum-rights defender.

Sembereka questioned the decision saying government had already put aside funding of the Local Government Elections in the 2010 -2011 national budget.

“Bingu is not interested in devolving the power to the grassroots,” said Sembereka: “He wants to centralize all to himself. Democracy means power is with the people and this is autocracy at its best.”

Immediately after fallen out of favour with Mutharika, former Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs, Harry Mkandawire, went to town claiming that he was partly sacked because he cautioned President Mutharika against his decision “not to hold local government elections.” –(Reporting by Peter Makossah, Nyasa Times)