By Burnett Munthali
Lilongwe, Malawi – Prominent political analyst Boniface Dulani has emphasized the importance of political parties focusing on their individual strengths and strategies rather than becoming overly fixated on forming alliances. Dulani made these remarks in Lilongwe during a meeting organized by the Democracy Works Foundation, which was attended by representatives from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), the National Registration Bureau (NRB), and other senior officials.
Dulani warned that certain political parties are at risk of being deregistered if they continue to rely solely on alliances without showing strong individual performance. He explained that the Political Parties Act, enacted in 2018, requires parties to meet specific criteria to remain on the party register. These criteria include securing seats in Parliament or local councils. Failure to meet these standards could result in a party’s deregistration.
“It’s crucial for political parties to have their own strategies and voter base instead of relying entirely on alliances,” Dulani stated. He highlighted that alliances can sometimes overshadow the individual efforts of parties, which may ultimately weaken their appeal to voters in the long run.
The meeting underscored the importance of the 2018 Political Parties Act, which aims to ensure accountability and active participation by parties in Malawi’s political landscape. By mandating that parties secure seats to stay registered, the act seeks to strengthen the party system and encourage parties to build robust, independent support.
Dulani’s message is a call for self-reflection within Malawi’s political parties as the country gears up for the next electoral cycle. Parties are encouraged to enhance their policies, engage with communities, and work toward gaining substantial voter support, which will benefit both their individual success and the nation’s democratic health.
