The 2019 Presidential Debates Taskforce has invited four presidential candidates to the first presidential debate taking place Friday, March 29, 2019 at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe, Malawi.
The candidates invited for the first debate are President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Mr. Atupele Muluzi of United Democratic Front (UDF), Malawi Congress Party (MCP) candidate Dr. Lazarus Chakwera and UTM candidate Dr. Saulos Chilima.
The March 29 debate is one of three presidential debates that the MISA Malawi-led 2019 Presidential Debates Taskforce has organised before Malawians go to polls on May 21, 2019.
Tikonze Peoples Movement (TPM) candidate Dr. Cassim Chilumpha, Mbakuwaku Movement for Development (MMD) candidate Mr. Peter Kuwani, Independent presidential candidate Reverend Hadwick Kaliya and Umodzi Party torchbearer Professor John Chisi have been invited for the second debate, scheduled for Tuesday, April 2.
The third and final debate, slated for April 5, will involve all eight 2019 presidential candidates.
“The taskforce has divided the candidates into groups to ensure quality debates as well as provide sufficient time for the candidates to outline their vision for Malawi and defend their policies and manifestos.
“Prior to their respective debates, all candidates will be asked to sign a pledge of non-violence,” 2019 Presidential Debates Taskforce Chairperson Teresa Ndanga said.
The 2019 debates taskforce consists of MISA Malawi, Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC), Times Group, Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) and the following Civil Society Organisations: Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD), Democracy Works Foundation(DWF), Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET), Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Malawi Law Society (MLS), Public Affairs Committee (PAC), Voluntary Service Organization (VSO), National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust, and the National Democratic Institute (NDI).
