One of the country’s veteran politician and social commentator, Humphreys Mvula, has warned that the move taken by traditional leaders on Electoral Reforms Bills campaign can provoke the anger of Malawians as their claim to be representing the views of their subjects is questionable.

Mvula said this in reaction to the chiefs’ petition which was presented to Parliament and the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) on Thursday, against the background of planned nationwide peaceful protests by the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) on December 13 to push for the tabling of the bills.

“In my opinion I think chiefs are being provocative and because of this more people will be determined to join PAC in the demonstrations. They should not cheat that they are representing their people. I haven’t held any meeting which they (chiefs) held recently to consult their subjects on the same,” he said.

Mvula added: “In my opinion they have been paid by someone to do this job. They are the mercenaries. Remember these are the same chiefs who were on the fore front advocating for the change of national flag during the late Bingu Wa Mutharika administration.”

PAC and other 16 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the donor community and opposition parties have been demanding the tabling of the bills in the current sitting Parliament.

But recently, the traditional leaders, led by paramount chiefs Ngolongoliwa, Lundu and Kyungu have argued against demands to have the proposed laws presented during the current session of Parliament.