By: Draxon Maloya.
Lolongwe, Malawi. (News of The South) -Six days after the official declaration of an official campaign period for the forthcoming tripartite elections in Malawi, the presidential runingmates have agreed to set 75 years of age as the retirement age for the president.
The three presidential runingmates from the Malawi Congress Party (MCP), United Democratic Front (UDF) and the United Transformation Movement (UTM) had some reservations to come up with the age limit describing the move as autocratic but the questionnaire of the debate had to be followed.
In his comment the UTM presidential runingmates Michael Usi said under normal circumstance when one is in the eighties he or she rarely makes sensible decisions hence being bulldozed by those around them or their spouses.
“We have had situations where we have seen leaders being driven by inner circles such as wives and friends and the results have been verydisappointing, considering that such decisions are made when transacting government business,“ Usi said.
This is against the age of the country’s president, the 84 year old Peter Mutharika who is also the torch bearer for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) which is boycotting the presidential debates.
The DPP secretary General Grezedah Jeffrey has on several occasions accused and described the presidential debates as a waste of time and biased ploys only aimed at frustrating the ruling party.
But in his remarks before the commencement of the debate the Managing Director of Zodiak Broadcasting Services (ZBS) Gospel Kadzako described the debate as one of the forums that gives the presidential candidates a platform to showcase their ideologies.
“We are a national broadcaster who believes in being the first when doing things and we create a none partisan atmosphere that is a basis for a democratic culture in the way we handle our broadcasting culture, “ Kadzako said.
This is the first time the Malawi have an opportunity to have live presidential debates for the aspirants broadcast on television and radio.
And other presidential runingmates who are taking part in the debates are Muhammad Sidik Mia of MCP and Frank Tumpale Mwenefumbo of UDF.
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