Should Malawi go for referendum amid leadership crisis or Chakwera must resign?
Some Malawians are contemplating of asking government to hold a referendum or the President must resign. A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative.
By Burnett Munthali
Some Malawians are contemplating of asking government to hold a referendum or the President must resign.
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a new policy or specific law.
Referendum can also be defined as the principle or practice of submitting to popular vote a measure passed on or proposed by a legislative body or by popular initiative. : a vote on a measure so submitted. : a diplomatic agent’s note asking for government instructions.
A referendum usually asks a question or questions to which all eligible electors must vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. For electors, referendums are very similar to elections. On polling day, electors go to a polling place and cast their vote on a ballot paper.
A referendum (in some countries synonymous with plebiscite, or a vote on a ballot question) is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This article summarises referendum laws and practice in various countries.
The popular referendum was first introduced in the United States by South Dakota in 1898, and first used in 1906 in Oregon, two years after the first initiative was used in 1904, also in Oregon.
A referendum on reintroducing multi-party democracy was held in Malawi on 14 June 1993. Over 64% of voters voted to end the Malawi Congress Party’s 31-year monopoly on power.
On June 14, 1993, the people of Malawi voted overwhelmingly in favor of multi-party democracy. Free and fair national elections were held on May 17, 1994. Bakili Muluzi, leader of the United Democratic Front (UDF), was elected President in those elections.
The primary purpose of both is to give voters an opportunity to approve or reject laws either proposed or enacted by the Legislature.
The government of Malawi has been a multi-party democracy since 1994.
Political rights and civil liberties are for the most part respected by the state. However, corruption is endemic, police brutality and arbitrary arrests are becoming the order of each week.
The political climate is the aggregate mood and opinions of a political society at a particular time. It is generally used to describe when the state of mood and opinion is changing or unstable.
Poor fiscal discipline and rampant corruption on the part of government;. Weak political governance (with insufficient separation of powers);. Inadequate foreign exchange, blackouts, dry taps of water due to blackouts and many more challenges to mention but just a few.
2019 Tripartite elections
Tripartite elections were held in May 2019, apparently returning President Peter Mutharika – to the top political office.
2020 Fresh presidential election
In June 2020 Chakwera became President after the constitutional court annulled the 2019 presidential election after Chakwera and Chilima had challenged the results.
Forced resignation
Malawians are now asking President Chakwera and Vice President Chilima both to resign for what they say failing to run government to the expectations of the people.
A forced resignation is when an employee gives up their position of employment as a result of pressure from managers, supervisors or members of a board. Unlike a traditional resignation, where an employee volunteers to give up their employment, forced resignations are involuntary.
Constructive dismissal is when an employee is forced to quit their job against their will because of their employer’s conduct.
The decision may be a purely financial one, as a means of reducing payroll, or it may be based on a variety of other factors, such a poor performance or a working style that doesn’t fit well with your company’s culture. Whatever the reason, the employee can be fired or asked to resign in lieu of termination.
A forced resignation is when an employee has no real choice but to resign. The onus is on the employee to prove that they did not resign .
Forced resignation occurs when an employer intends to end their relationship with an employee due to different reasons.
Being forced to resign can be seen as an insult because it is not a legal practice despite how common it is. Furthermore, you may be harassed by your employers to agree with this decision or face potential termination. Some may also negotiate with you and offer benefits such as medical separation, among other things.
Question
Will Chakwera and his Vice Chilima listen to these calls and accept to call for a referendum or resign or continue to rule up to 2025?
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are those of The author not necessarily of the Maravi Post or Editor
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