As Malawians anticipate to cast their votes on May 21, the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has warned aspiring candidates against giving handouts to their party followers during the campaign period.

Zomba Civic Education Officer for NICE Abetina Zidana sounded the warning during a parliamentary debate in Zomba central with the aim of giving the aspiring Parliamentarians a platform to market themselves.

Zidana said the Political Parties Act which become into operation on December 1, 2018 restrain candidates from giving handouts to their supporters to level the playing field for aspirants who have meager financial muscle.

“If a person is found giving handouts is likely to pay money mounting to 10 million kwacha and attracts a jail term of not less than a 5 year.”

Hasheem Banda of United Democratic Front (UDF), Noel Masangwi of UTM , independent candidate Angella Makangala and Steven Buesi of Malawi Congress Party (MCP) gave out their manifestos during the debate.

Nice is organizing the parliamentary and councillors debates with financial support from Germany embassy and the European Union (EU).