By Rahim Abdul
Newly elected Member of Parliament for Nkhotakota Central Sylvester Ayuba James, has proposed significant reforms aimed at redefining how long national leaders and legislators can serve in office.
James revealed that he intends to present a bill to Parliament calling for the extension of term limits for the President and Members of Parliament (MPs) to seven or eight years per term. According to him, the current practice of holding elections every five years is costly and drains the country’s resources.
“The frequent elections every five years consume a large portion of the national budget, which could otherwise be invested in development projects,” James explained.
“Our goal is to create a system that allows leaders to focus on governance and long-term planning without the constant pressure of election cycles,”he added.
Currently, Malawi’s constitution allows the President and MPs to serve five-year terms before standing for re-election.
James’ proposal, if accepted, would extend these terms, potentially altering the political landscape and reducing the frequency of national campaigns.
James emphasized that his initiative is meant to stimulate national debate and provide Parliament with an opportunity to consider reforms that balance stability with democratic oversight.
The proposed bill is expected to be presented in the coming parliamentary session, where it will be scrutinized and debated by lawmakers.
