Malawian youths in diaspora have said President Joyce Banda should have known that democracy is expensive, arguing her excuse that her government may not be able to fund by-elections if Section 65 were implemented is lame.
The youth, calling themselves Malawian Youth Blending in Politics, have urged Banda to respect the Constitution she swore to defend and protect and that she should desist from choosing which laws to respect or ignore.
The group’s administrator, Wellington Mangulenje, said in a statement e-mailed from The Netherlands that Banda, when she was the late president Bingu wa Mutharika’s vice-president, called on Malawians to respect the rule of law; hence, she should be the last person to go against the Constitution.
President Banda told a rally in Mangochi on Sunday that her government may not be ready to find about K4.9 billion (about $19.6 million) for by-elections if the Speaker of Parliament declares vacant seats of legislators accused to have crossed the floor.
Speaker Henry Chimunthu Banda was petitioned by former ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and United Democratic Front (UDF) to declare vacant seats of MPs said to have crossed the floor by joining the People’s Party (PP) which came into power following Mutharika’s death, but had no MPs.
In the statement, Mangulenje warned government of serious consequences if it blocks Section 65 from being implemented.
Other political commentators have also condemned President Banda’s statement and have argued Section 65 is a constitutional provision that must be respected.
Information and Civic Education Minister Moses Kunkuyu asked to be e-mailed the statement before commenting.
