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Vice President Justin Malewezi has asked political leaders and parties in Malawi and beyond to desist from “destructive” campaign.
He also challenged election management bodies to ensure integrity of the electoral process to avoid electoral disputes, among them parties refusing to accept results of an election.
Malewezi said on Thursday in Lilongwe political leaders must harness the constructive energy of conflict inherent in the democratic electoral process and manage it in a way that all stakeholders have confidence in the outcome of an election.
“In the process of campaigning to win vote, political parties criticise each other’s programmes and manifestos, question each others track records and at times attack the character of individual members or candidates.
“Incidences of this nature often encourage some political parties not to accept the results of an election,” said Malewezi when he opened a Sadc Parliamentary Forum meeting on norms and standards for elections in the Sadc region.
Noting that conflict is inherent in human nature, Malewezi said it does not have to be destructive, saying if the constructive energy of conflict is managed properly stakeholders can view the electoral process as a useful mechanism through which ordinary people are able to make decisions to choose their leaders without any interference or intimidation.
Conflicts can also be minimised when elections management bodies are seen to be truly independent, he said. The challenges of election bodies in such situations are how to secure the integrity of the electoral process.
Speaking to delegates pooled together from South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and host Malawi all countries going to the polls next year — Malawi said elections must not only be free and fair but should also be seen to be such by domestic and international observers, saying election propaganda must be avoided.
“For democracy to grow we must show tolerance to people and political parties with differing opinions. Elections should not be only free and fair but should also be seen to be free and fair by domestic and internal observers.
“In some cases, international observers are subjected to intense propaganda prior to elections deliberately so that they should overlook the realities on the ground. In the end, the international observers make very subjective assessment of the elections,” he said.
There are also situations whereby an election is marked by a curtailment of civil liberties and political rights, with little commitment to the upholding of the basic tenets of a democratic system.”
Last week the clergy condemned the penchant of using soiled language by political leaders while other commentators said President Bakili Muluzi must be exemplary and desist from publicly castigating opposition politicians.
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