By Burnett Munthali
One of the senior members of UTM, Kenneth Bwanali, has assured his fellow party members that the Age Limit Bill will return to Parliament.
This assurance comes as UTM members continue to push for the reintroduction of the bill, which seeks to set an upper age limit for presidential candidates in Malawi.
The bill is widely seen as a strategic move aimed at preventing former President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika from contesting in the upcoming elections.
Mutharika, who served as Malawi’s President from 2014 to 2020, has indicated his interest in running again, sparking intense political debate over whether he should be allowed to return to power.
Supporters of the Age Limit Bill argue that leadership should be left in the hands of younger, more energetic politicians who can bring fresh ideas and long-term solutions to Malawi’s governance challenges.
They believe that introducing an age restriction for presidential candidates will help ensure generational transition in leadership and prevent the recycling of past leaders.
On the other hand, Mutharika’s supporters argue that the bill is a direct attack on democracy, as it seeks to eliminate a candidate who still enjoys significant support among Malawians.
They claim that UTM and its allies fear Mutharika’s potential comeback and are using legal maneuvers to block him rather than facing him at the ballot box.
The Age Limit Bill was previously brought before Parliament but failed to pass, leading to frustration among its proponents.
Kenneth Bwanali’s statement serves as a reassurance to those advocating for the bill, signaling that UTM remains committed to ensuring its reintroduction and eventual approval.
As Malawi moves closer to September 16, the political landscape is expected to become even more heated, with both sides intensifying their campaigns for and against the bill.
If reintroduced and passed, the bill could significantly reshape the 2025 presidential race by eliminating Mutharika as a contender, thereby altering the political calculations of all major parties.
However, if the bill fails again, Mutharika could proceed with his candidacy, setting up a fierce electoral battle between the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and its rivals.
The upcoming parliamentary sessions will be crucial in determining the fate of the bill, as well as the broader implications it may have on Malawi’s democratic principles.
Regardless of the outcome, the debate over the Age Limit Bill has already exposed deep divisions within the country’s political sphere, with strong opinions on both sides of the argument.
For UTM, passing the bill would be a major political victory, reinforcing its position as a party advocating for progressive leadership reforms.
For Mutharika and his supporters, however, the bill represents an unfair attempt to manipulate the electoral process, undermining the will of the people.
As Malawians watch closely, the battle over the Age Limit Bill is set to be one of the defining political conflicts in the lead-up to September 16 and beyond.
