YALI advises govt, stakeholders over Political Parties Act

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has advised both Government and stakeholders to approach the introduction of Political Parties Act with greater caution.

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza believes that this is one piece of legislation where consensus must be created among all stakeholders especially political parties that will be regulated under such an Act.

Mr. Mwanza furthermore believes that the country should go a long way towards promoting intra and inter party democracy and emergence of effective leaders.

Mr. Mwanza has reminded Government that the county is still struggling on the way forward regarding the enforcement of the controversial NGO Act which Government came up with unilaterally and whose enforcement in its current form has been opposed by Civil Society.

He says government must take due care not to introduce laws that are a recipe for infringement of citizens rights to freely associate and engage in the democratic process.

He has called on the Ministry of Justice to avoid the temptation of continuing to use these Acts to create institutions and offices that dip from the public purse while doing no practical work as noticed with the Office of the Registrar of NGOs.

Mr. Mwanza tells QFM News in a statement that the introduction of such a legal framework for political parties must first be backed by enactment of progressive clauses as contained in the Draft Constitution and this sitting of Parliament must bring forth those amendments.

He has since encouraged Government to do thorough consultation with stakeholders before introducing the Political Parties Act.