AFRICA/MALAWI - “With the immense number voters, the people have called for an increase in democracy and respect from their representatives,” missionary says

Lilongwe (Agenzia Fides) – Just 10 days after the re-election of President Bingu wa Mutharika (see Fides 22/5/2009), Fr. Piergiorgio Gamba, a Monfort Missionary who has lived in Malawi for years, sent a note to Fides on his reflections on the May 19 elections. “The participation in voting was truly free and extremely peaceful with very little moments of tension. Men and women, including youth, all over 18 years of age and foreign residents who have lived at least 7 years in Malawi, all filled the voting booths. There was none of the feared apathy at the end of a heated electoral campaign with controversies meant to confuse the people. Although it wasn't as many as the number of people who participated in the referendum of 1993 and the first political elections in 1994, it was a noteworthy crowd. Beginning at 4am, before sunrise, lines were already forming at the booths, proof of the real interest of the people. Of the over 5,900,000 registered voters, over 4,200,000 voted,” Fr. Gamba wrote.
The observers from the European Union declared that the vote had been freely carried out, although the government did use the mass media, as well as government-run services (such as transportation and finance) for their own interests.
“They have been exemplary elections, of which Malawi should be proud. Elections with which the people called for an increase in democracy and respect from their representatives,” the missionary sayd, explaining his doubts as to whether or not the government will respect their requests: “These elections completely change the political structure of the country. The President's party already has a majority presence in Parliament, however it is trying to obtain the consensus of the 32 independent Parliament members, in order to guarantee 140/193 votes. Thus, the Presidential party would dominate with a ¾ majority, which is enough to change the Constitution and make almost any bill pass without the support of anyone else.”
“While we should rejoice for the peaceful elections, we must face the reality of an urgent need for progress that involves all people, especially the poorest of the poor. This is the real challenge for the democracy and institutions in this country,” the missionary concluded. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 2/6/2009)