Political activist says parliament should be given power to appoint vice president

Malawi’s political activist George Phiri has suggested that there should be a review on the country’s laws on how the position of vice president should be attained.

According to Phiri, presidential candidates should not be standing with a running mate as it is the case now.

According to Phiri, Parliament should be given powers to choose the country’s vice president.

In Phiri’s thinking, this will help to solve the soar relationship that exist between presidents and their deputies.

Adding to that Phiri said if the vice president is chosen by parliament chances are that independence of the vice presidency will be guaranteed.

Concurring with Phiri, Centre for Democracy Economic and Development Initiatives (CDEDI) executive director Sylvester Namiwa and another human rights activist Michael Kaiyatsa said the bad blood between the two offices deprives Malawians of their right to development as it affects service delivery.

In Malawi history, every president has had stepped on their vice presidents.