Jubilee should stop this selfishness

Jubilee MPs’ move to change laws on the merger and formation of political parties through the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill 2016, is driven by malice and selfishness.

In a nutshell, this Bill will roll back the progress made in the country’s democracy to when unpopular politicians with the right connections were imposed on the electorate.

A section of Jubilee MPs (PHOTO: FILE/ STANDARD)

The intention of the Bill could be well-meaning and designed to save the country from numerous by-elections when the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) morphs into the Jubilee Party (JP).

Yet it has ended up exposing the hypocrisy and the mendacity of the political class and their scheme to self-preserve. The Bill in essence, is being used to tackle internal resistance to the merger of parties under the JAP umbrella.

It also creates room for party-hopping, something which the Political Parties Act (2011) hoped to cure. In fact, it gives room for chaos and blatant rigging during party primaries.

When MPs are given carte blanche to jump from one party to another, accountability and the electorate become the ultimate losers. MPs therefore, must not be allowed to change laws at whim to suit their individual needs.