[Civsoc-mw] Steps Towards 2019: Eligibility to contest in 2019 elections

[SANGWANI MWAFULIRWA]

Dear Sir/Madam, Find  pasted below the column article that appeared in The Nation Newspaper under the Political Index supplement on Wednesday. Past articles are archived here http://www.mec.org.mw/ category/Steps_towards_2019. html  +++++++++++++Eligibility to contest in 2019elections

Voterregistration came to an end on November 9, 2018. The preparations for 2019Tripartite Elections continue. The Commission is now planning for voterverification and nomination of candidates.

Becauseof the increasing number of enquiries from aspirants, this week we look againat the eligibility criteria to contest for the Presidential, Parliamentary orLocal Government Elections on May 21, 2019.


Nomination papers will be availablefor collection from Constituency Returning Officers, Council offices and fromMEC from January 4 to February 8, 2019. All candidates standing on party ticketwill get their nomination papers from their respective secretaries general. Allthose contesting for presidency will collect nomination papers from the MEChead office.


 
Thepresentation of nomination papers is scheduled to take place from 4to 8 February 2019. Candidates and political partieswishing to contest in the 2014 Tripartite Elections should ensure that theycheck if they or their candidates are eligible to contest. This will help savetime and resources on their part. The eligibility criteria are as follows:

1.   Officeof the President: No person shall qualify fornomination unless he or she:

·       is a citizen of Malawi by birth ordescent;

·       has attained the age of 35 years andor above

·      isable to speak and to read the English language well enough to take an activepart in the proceedings of Parliament; 

·       is a registered voter


 
2.   officeof Member of Parliament: No person shall qualify fornomination unless he or she:

·      isa citizen of the Republic who at the time of nomination has attainedthe age of 21 years and or above

·      isable to speak and to read the English language well enough to take an activepart in the proceedings of Parliament; 

·      Isa registered voter


 
3.   officeof Ward Councillor: No person shall qualify fornomination unless he or she:

·       hasattained the age of 21years and or more on the day of nomination

·       isable to speak and to read English language well enough to take an active partin the proceedings of the council

·       isa registered voter


 
Theeligibility age should be attained on the day of submitting nomination papersto the returning officer.

Notwithstanding the aboveconditions, no one shall qualify for nomination to contest in the election ofPresident, Member of Parliament and Ward councillor, if the person:


 
1.      owes allegiance to a foreign country;

2.      is, under any law in force in the Republic, adjudged or otherwisedeclared to be of unsound mind

3.      has, within the last seven years, been convicted by a competentcourt of a crime involving dishonesty or moral turpitude;

4.      is an undischarged bankrupt, having been adjudged or otherwisedeclared bankrupt under any law in force in the Republic;

5.      holds, or acts, in any public office or appointment

6.      belongs to, and is serving in the Malawi Defence Forces, theMalawi Police Service and the Malawi Prison Service; and

7.      has, within the last seven years, been convicted by a competentcourt of any violation of any law relating to elections.


 
Electoralstakeholders should note that academic or educational qualifications likeholding a Malawi School Certificate (MSCE) or a first degree are not part ofthe eligibility criteria for any of the three positions. 


 

   
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