By Burnett Munthali
Rick Dzida has sparked an insightful debate on the Maravi Post readers forum, weighing in on John’s write-up regarding the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) stance on the use of national IDs in Malawi’s electoral process. Dzida’s contribution focuses on two central claims from John’s argument, both of which he critiques with careful reasoning.
Claim 1: DPP Initiated the National ID registration and should therefore accept that any voter must possess a National ID
Dzida acknowledges the validity of this claim but quickly points out a fundamental issue: not every eligible voter in Malawi currently possesses a national ID. He argues that while the DPP may have initiated the registration of national IDs, barring eligible voters from exercising their constitutional right to vote simply because they lack a national ID is unacceptable.
“The fact remains that the registration process has not been entirely inclusive, and many citizens, particularly those in rural areas or economically disadvantaged regions, may face obstacles in acquiring these IDs,” Dzida notes. Therefore, while the push for national IDs has its merits, it cannot be used as a tool to disenfranchise voters.
Claim 2: DPP must accept that every voter must possess a National ID because it enforced their use during its elective convention
John’s second claim draws a comparison between DPP’s internal procedures and the national voting system. He argues that since the DPP enforced the use of national IDs for its delegates during its elective convention, it should do the same for the general voting population. However, Dzida counters this by pointing out the vast difference in scale.
“It’s one thing to ensure that a small, manageable group of delegates has national IDs, but quite another to expect the entire voting population of Malawi to be in the same position,” Dzida explains. The party can, to an extent, assist its delegates in obtaining IDs if they don’t have them, but it would be politically questionable if the DPP extended this assistance to all citizens without addressing the structural barriers that exist in acquiring national IDs.
In essence, Dzida’s arguments emphasize that while national ID registration is crucial for governance and electoral processes, the DPP’s approach needs to account for real-world inequalities in accessing these IDs. As it stands, excluding eligible voters who lack IDs could have severe political and social ramifications.
Rick Dzida’s balanced perspective sheds light on the complexities of Malawi’s national ID system and its implications for voting rights. His contribution to the Maravi Post forum highlights the importance of addressing barriers to access, ensuring no citizen is left behind in the democratic process.