Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Councillor for Blantyre City Soche East Constituency Leonard Chimbanga has blasted Mulanje Central legislator Kondwani Nankhumwa over his plans to table age limit Bill for Presidential candidates.
According to published reports, Nankhumwa is scheduled to table the bill during this coming session of Parliament.
The Bill seek to propose a constitutional amendment to make any person above 80 years of age ineligible to contest for the presidency.
But many have described the plans as a revenge to former President Peter Mutharika who is seeking re-election in the forthcoming 2025 polls.
Writing on his official facebook page Chimbanga described the bill as discriminatory.
“Nankhumwa’s reason for proposing the Presidential age limit according to this PhD holder of Kanengo he claims the office holder needs to be energetic to steer the state into the right direction.
“The President of Malawi Law society Patrick Mpaka argues that the constitution in section 87 addresses issues of capability of the President,there are no constitution gaps as claimed by this Kanengo Doctor, his bill will address he continued the reason for the proposed bill seem to be conjecture which basically means “opinion or conclusion formed on the basis of incomplete information” but but not surprising considering the Chisitu PhD holder fishy credentials. Amending a constitution is a serious matter and should seek to advance and protect the public rather than probate interests of individual politicians. Proposed changes must be objective and bills cannot come through a private members bill but a proper public bill,” wrote Chimbanga.
He added: “Another lawyer John-Gift Mwakhwawa the reason for the Nankhumwa bill is obviously personal.We should not allow MPs to pass legislation that targets individuals. He concluded.
“It is now sinking in that he or his sponsors can’t defeat APM now they are trying to find ways to take him out of the 2025 ballot. The more they do this then ore the public loves APM.”
Meanwhile, the business committee of Parliament is scheduled to meet today at map the way forward on the Bill.
