University students want full parliament after elections

By Richard Chirombo

Catholic University students have demanded the restoration of a "full parliament" in Malawi by whoever takes over after the May 19 presidential and parliamentary elections, saying the current set up was defeating the very purpose of democracy.

The students' demand came after human and rights activist, Marcel Chisi, disclosed during a public lecture held Thursday at the University campus, that there was no Parliament in Malawi- only a National Assembly. The debate was organized by the Sustainable Rural Growth and Development Initiative (SRGDI) with funding from the German organization- GTZ.

It came courtesy of a programme christened Demokalase Yathu (Our Democracy), an initiative that has seen students from over six colleges share knowledge on how they can prevent violence during elections and contribute towards positive political processes in Malawi.

This puzzled the students, some of them pursuing political and social science studies, who demanded to know what Chisi meant by the statement when, for all intents and purposes, it was clear that Malawi had a Parliament.

Chisi responded that Malawi did not have a full Parliament following the repelling of the Senate (also known as the House of Commons in other countries)- a development that reduced the country's Parliament to a gathering place for legislators from around the country.

"By the strict sense of the word Parliament, Malawi has none. Technically we have nothing to call Parliament," said Chisi. The whole Hall went silent.

At this point, the students seemed to have connived when about ten of them demanded that "We want a full Parliament and not the gathering of individuals from across the country. Let there be the Senate again to check the decisions over our legislators."

Catholic University Students' Union Administrative Secretary, Jobidone Shaba, said there was need for checks and balances in Parliament hence the need to have a "full' Parliament.

"It's really an eye opener to learn that we have no Parliament from Mr. Chisi. We wish whoever takes over after May 19, 2009 restores this status quo for our democracy to represent the real wishes of the people," said Shaba.

SRGDI's Programmes Officer, Maynard Nyirenda, said they decided to take the public debates to university students owing to their strategic position in influencing national debate and opinion.

He said people in institutions of higher learning were generally taken as leaders by people in rural areas, a position that would help people understand and take an active role in strengthening the country's democracy.

"We are happy we the responses we have received from university students- starting with Chancellor College, the Malawi Polytechnic, Mzuzu University, Livingstonia University, among others- and are hopeful that this will help our people understand electoral processes and the tenets of democracy," said Nyirenda.

Among other areas, the students were lectured on the principles of democracy and their role in the process.

Dean for the Faculty of Social Sciences at the institution, Godfully Banda, hailed  the problem. He said it would help raise awareness among university students, most of whom were regarded as well-versed people when they could not grasp some aspects pertaining to elections and democracy.

"Let these programmes continue," he said.Next week, on May 5, SRGDI takes the public lectures to the College of Medicine, where renowned political analyst and human rights activist Rafiq Hajat will expound more on the role of university students in promoting democracy, as well as their responsibility as Malawi's elections become nigh by the day.