Opposition DPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Mulanje West Patricia Kaliati has appealed to civil society organisations (CSO) to educate the voters on the role of an MP.
Kaliati, addressing a news conference in Mulanje on Tuesday, said most voters do not understand the role of an MP and as a result, they go to homes of those aspiring to contest or incumbent MPs to seek material support.
Kaliati, who is director of women in the DPP and a former Cabinet minister during UDF and DPP regimes, said CSOs must move in and conduct massive civic education to enlighten the citizenry that giving handouts is not their role.
She, however, said MPs or aspirants are forced to dish handouts because constituents look up to them and MPs help where they can.
Kaliati said this when she was asked why MPs have created a situation where the giving of handouts is the way of political survival.
Kaliati, who addressed journalists attending an electoral reporting workshop funded by National Democratic Institute (NDI), encouraged fellow women to stand firm as they campaign to contest for different positions in this year’s tripartite elections.
