Ntchisi female politicians decry handouts syndrome

The tendency by politicians to give out financial and material handouts to entice voters continues to thrive despite the 2018 Political Parties Act outlawing the same, it has emerged.

  Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) executive director Emma Kaliya fears the practice will disadvantage female contenders in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections because they have less financial and material resources than their male counterparts

She said this in Mbawala Ward in Ntchisi South where MHRRC in partnership with NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) held a rally to drum up support for female parliamentary and local government candidates.

 “Desist from giving and receiving handouts because if you are caught, you will be punished severely. Support women and vote for them. I have no doubt that they will serve you well,” said Kaliya.

In her remarks, independent parliamentary candidate Rosemary Sadyalunda appealed to the 50:50 Campaign Management Agency to speed up provision of resources to female aspirants.

But in a telephone interview, 50:50 Campaign  Management Agency national director Viwemi Chavula said the agency did not promise to finance the campaign for the female contenders.

NGO-GCN and MHRRC are implementing a ten-month project to elevate women to decision-making positions through the May 21 polls.