Pan African Civic Educators Network (PACENET) says popularization of the law on handouts will go a long way in ensuring equal access to both female and male political aspirants.

PACENET Executive Director , Steve Duwa said this during a political rally for Member of Parliament for Mangochi South Lilian Patel.

“First and foremost, let’s applaud Parliament for passing this Political Parties Bill which prohibits handouts during election period,” he said when addressing the media after the rally.

“This will give chance to contestants who are cash-strapped but development conscious to compete favorably with their rich counterparts.”

Duwa said civil society organizations in the country need to up their efforts in raising the awareness on the law so as to popularize the law before Malawians go for polls in May this year.

With financial support from UN Women, PACENET is implementing the project that seeks to create opportunities for increased women participation and representation in the electoral processes for the 2019 elections in Malawi.