Center for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) says the new Political Parties Act will help level the playing field in the administration of the 2019 tripartite elections if it comes into effect before the elections. 

Among others, the Act prohibits the issuing of handouts by any politician all-round the electoral period.

The Act was passed in parliament on November 13 2017 and what is left is for the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs to choose a date when it should be gazetted and put into effect.

CMD Executive Director, Kizito Tenthani said stressed that the law was not framed with the elections in mind.

“It’s a law that should regulate the legislation and regulation of political parties. How political parties should behave as players in our democracy,” Tenthani said in Blantyre during an interaction with the media on the contents of the new Act.

He however disclosed that the law has a direct implication on elections.

“The prohibition of handouts has a direct consequence towards the leveling of playing field. We believe that if the law comes into effect before the elections, then political parties ought to comply to that to make sure that elections are fair to all the players,” Tenthani added.