The Business Committee of Parliament has rejected the move Chitipa South legislator Werani Chilenga to table a petition on the amendment Section 80 (6)(b) of the Constitution during the forthcoming Budget Meeting.
The petition demands Parliament to amend Section 80 (6)(b) of the Constitution which provides for age eligibility of presidential candidates, to include age limit.
Section 80(6) of the Constitution stipulates that a person is eligible for election as President or Vice-President if he or she is a citizen of Malawi by birth or descent and has attained the minimum age of 35, but there is no maximum age cap.
During it’s meeting on Tuesday, the committee discussed and blocked the intention of Chilenga to present the petition, which he said he received from a certain youth organization.
In an interview, Leader of Opposition in Parliament, George Chaponda said the members agreed not to bring the petition before the House.
“In the business committee today we have agreed not to bring the petition before the house on the presidential age limit. The Constitution is clear and the framers in their wisdom deemed it fit to fix the minimum age limit.
“The Constitution is sacred and should not be tampered. We are also looking forward to the State of the Nation address which will be delivered by the President on Friday. We will use the occasion to ask the President Chakwera questions arising from his speech on matters affecting the nation Ultimately
“This is a meeting about the budget for the 2025-2026 financial year as opposition will ensure that the discussion are centered on alleviating our people suffering from lack of maize, rising costs of goods and services, no forests and in brief the economy which is in shambles,” he said
