By Duncan Mlanjira
Copyright maraviexpress
Do not do a flamboyant swearing in ceremony, demonstrate prudent use of public resources — plan for a small function to be attended by those who matter most
* Set your 100 days deliverables that can be reported quantitatively with evidence based
By Duncan Mlanjira
Social and economic commentator, Tawachi Mwasulama Kaseghe has given some advice that who wins the September 16 presidential election to form the next government, should not do a flamboyant swearing in ceremony, saying this will “demonstrate prudent use of public resources”.
He suggests that they should “plan for a small and modest function to be attended by those who matter most, such as the Chief Justice and his judiciary staff and that as soon as the new government administration takes office, they they should set deliverables for the first 100 days “that can be reported quantitatively with evidence-based”.
“Do not pick them anyhow, prioritise those that contribute directly to easing burdens Malawians are going through — for example fuel and forex.”
During the 100 days, the next administration is also advised not to travel around the country holding celebration rallies to thank those who voted for them — with an emphasis: “You don’t have that time to waste.”
“Do not sit back entertaining groups and individuals coming to State residences to congratule you for victory, these people bring envelopes and a lot of gifts, unknowingly some end up receiving corrupt money and it weakens your integrity.
“The moment you want to address a national injustice, you will be told those causing it are those who came and gifted you K2 billion — you can’t fight them.”
Kaseghe has also encouraged that the next leadership should “appropriately fire everyone who has messed up things, replace them with competent Malawians, who can help you to quickly fix things”.
He belongs to a group of HardTalkers on governance, economy, finance & banking, politics — who have been consistently offering advices on these topics of government administration but they have been ignored.
Another HardTalk member observed that Malawi’s electoral map “is somewhat skewed and this is dangerous for our country” and thus this “requires that whichever party wins, should form an inclusive government to reconfigure the map and promote peace”.
“After all the country has collapsed economically and it is important to agree on how to stabilise the economy and later start talking and implementing policies that can enhance economic growth and development. Let’s all focus on that.”
At midday today, Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson, Justice Annabel Mtalimanja held a press briefing mat the National Tally Centre at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC), saying as the results of the general election continue to be compiled and tallied, all contestants, their supporters, and the general public should remain patient and calm.
She indicated that while various stakeholders are free to do their own parallel tallying, they should exercise “discipline and meticulousness in their work”, saying: “Elections are serious business and stakeholders should refrain from throwing into the public domain crude and rudimentary calculations.
“The public is also urged to consider everything shared as unofficial until the final results is released by the Commission. As a reminder the mandate rests with the Commission to declare winner. It will be the results of the Commission that determine who is declared winner on all the three elections.
“The period of results processing is often highly sensitive, and the conduct of the candidates plays a crucial role. This collective discipline will help ensure that the outcome of the election is accepted by all and that the country remains united as it awaits the final declaration of results.”
Meanwhile, the Malaŵi Law Society (MLS) has also reminded all political parties and candidates that under Clause 8 of the Code of Conduct for Electoral Campaign, 2025, every candidate and political party solemnly undertook to acknowledge MEC’s authority and to refrain from any action that could interfere with its independence or impartiality.
The Law Society thus appeals to all political parties and candidates “to desist from making statements that amount to declarations of victory based on unofficial results”.
“The Society further appeals to all candidates and political parties to respect the law, and to wait for the Commission to process, determine, and publish the results within the prescribed time frames.”
The statement, issued by MLS president, Davis Njobvu and Honorary Secretary Francis Ekari M’mame, says they noted “with deep concern the public statements by certain political parties and candidates prematurely declaring victory in the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections”.
“These declarations have been made, and continue to be made, through various mainstream and social media outlets. The Society acknowledges that political parties and candidates may have their own collated or tallied results.
“However, the Society wishes to remind all political parties and candidates that the Malawi Electoral Commission is the only constitutional and statutory authority mandated to determine, declare, and publish the final results of all elections.
“Pursuant to section 98 of the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Elections Act, the Commission is lawfully accorded a period of up to eight days, 14 days, and 21 days respectively to publish national results for the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.”
The MLS this joins MEC in its call for all Malawians to respect the law and the established process: “We echo the Commission’s appeal that:
(a) Political leaders must refrain from stirring public pressure against the Commission to release results without due consideration of the legally prescribed process;
(b) Political leaders must desist from making inflammatory statements that could create an unfavourable public orientation towards the Commission or incite public fear and discomfort; and
(c) Without infringing upon the fundamental freedoms of expression and the media, all leaders and media houses are strongly advised to refrain from providing a platform for utterances that could disturb public order, amount to insolence against the Commission, or be interpreted as implying a definitive victory
The MLS reiterates that it has a statutory mandate under section 64(d) of the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act “to protect matters of public interest touching, ancillary or incidental to law”.
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