By John Saukani
In 2010, Malawi Parliament passed National Registration Bill, which was dully assented to by the then Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) President, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika.
This was the same Act, which empowered the Malawi Government to open what is currently known as the National Registration Bureau (NRB).
This Act gave NRB powers to register all the citizens across the country for easy identification in banks, schools, and during electoral processes.
This is what the Act says in Section 3.
“There shall be a National Registration System consisting of population Register established under this Act. The population register shall comprise the Births, Marriages and Deaths Registers recorded at the village, traditional authority, district
national levels,” Reads the section in part.
It is disheartening if not surprising to note that DPP is refusing the use of the National ID, which they, themselves, introduced to Malawians for use during the forth coming general elections.
Reports that we are receiving indicate that DPP wants to ferry ghost voters from the foreign nations in order to beef up their numbers.
DPP is already using errant civil society advocates, and and other means to block the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) from using the National Identity cards.
Ironically, during the DPP convention, only those with National Identification cards were allowed to vote. Yes, you heard me right: DURING THE DPP CONVENTION ONLY THOSE WITH NATIONAL IDS WERE ALLOWED TO VOTE.
DPP knows clearly that by using National Identification cards, they can not win the elections because DPP has no numbers following the ongoing splits and the dwindling popularity. Rigging the vote is their only hope.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of the author not necessarily represent those of the Maravi Post or Editor.
