Ahead of the parliamentary and local government by-elections scheduled for March 17, Registrar of Political Parties Kizito Tenthani has expressed concern over the persistent culture of campaign handouts in Malawi. Speaking in Mzuzu on Monday, Tenthani admitted that his office faces significant challenges in enforcing the Political Parties Act of 2018, which bans vote-buying and material inducements, according to Nyasa Times. He noted that the fight against handouts requires stronger civic education and public cooperation to provide credible evidence, rather than relying solely on enforcement by his limited staff.
Meanwhile, a new Afrobarometer dispatch released on Wednesday highlighted Malawians' views on national social policies and reproductive rights. The survey revealed that while 85 percent of citizens support a woman's autonomy in deciding when to marry and strongly back policies allowing pregnant girls to continue their education, public opinion remains firmly against expanding abortion access. According to the report, 94 percent of respondents oppose abortion for unwanted pregnancies, and significant majorities reject it even if the mother's health is at risk, reflecting the cultural views that continue to influence legislative debates in Parliament.