As all is set for Parliament to meet for the 2020/2021 budget session on Friday, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC)has asked to the lawmakers to prioritise election matters during the deliberations.

HRDC Chairperson Gift Trapence said Malawians are waiting with keen interest to know the actual date when they will cast their ballot.

“We know that there has been dates that have been proposed before but those dates are not fixed so Malawians want to know when they are going to vote and we don’t want politics to come into the equation,” said Trapence.

He warned that if the lawmakers play around with discussions surrounding election issues, the Coalition will mobilise mass demonstration to the August House.

“We would want our parliament to prioritise the issue of elections to set the date as to when Malawians are going to vote otherwise we will mobilise mass protests to the National Assembly,” said Trapence.

He added that if 150 days elapse without having the election as directed by a panel of High Court judges sitting as the Constitutional Court, Malawi will degenerate into a constitutional crisis.

“They should not think that Malawians will just be spectators if 150 days elapses then we will be talking about Constitution Crisis in this country and Malawians will defend their Constitution,” advised Trapence.

Members of Parliament are expected to convene for the 2020/2021 budget meeting from Friday, July 5.