First Deputy Speaker of Malawi Parliament, Mcheka Chilenje has said there is need for electorate to know the laws that their parliamentarians make in the august house for them to act and behave according the laws of the country.
The Speaker who is also Member of Parliament for Nsanje North Congruency made the remarks on Thursday at Fatima where she had a meeting with people of Kalulu ward.
In an interview, Mcheka emphasised that it was important to inform the people of the new law because it is the primary duty legislators do in Parliament.
“I was trying to disseminate the message that this time we have a new law whereby handouts are no longer allowed during campaign gatherings, that no candidate should give handouts because the Political Parties Act is barring us candidates to do so.
“People should be voted into power because of their integrity, their ability to articulate the way they would want to serve their people, their manifesto should be their tool to be voted,” she said.
The Nsanje North legislature added that most often money entices the people to vote for wrong people and leave out genuine ones who would otherwise bring development in their respective constituencies.
Chilenje said she is able to walk shoulders high because she has managed to meet the promises she made to the people of Nsanje constituency, citing the start of construction of Thabwa-Fatima road as part of her initiative.
During the rally, the MP introduced to the people Alex Solomon who will contest for Kalulu ward after winning DPP primary elections that were held in the ward.
Responding to how they have taken the new law, people the constituents commended the introduction of Political Parties Act saying it will bring sanity in political rallies.
“The law has come at a right time and it will reduce chaos that have always been there during rallies or after rallies. Most people were involved in fights not for the love of the party of candidate but to gain more money,” said Kamweni Fachi, a farmer from Masenjere.
The Political Parties Act bans political parties and candidates from giving out cash in order to entice voters to tow their political line.
However, the use of clothing materials, leaflets, fliers and banners are allowed to let politicians sell themselves to the masses.
