In light of the 2020 draft constitution which prohibited political parties from receiving foreign donations, the 2024 Draft deleted this restriction.
“While it is important to safeguard national sovereignty, the Government recognises that political parties may receive legitimate support from international partners,” the note stated.
The government further justified that the deletion of that provision allowed for more flexibility in political funding provided that all contributions are transparent and compliant with existing laws.
“Instead of an outright ban, the focus is to ensure that such contributions do not compromise national interests,” the explanatory note pointed out.
Meanwhile, the 2020 draft provided for the political parties to declare to the public their revenues and assets, and the sources of those revenues and assets.
The 2024 draft deleted that paragraph and replaced it with section 60(3) of the current (1997) constitution, which reads: An Act of the National Assembly shall make provisions for the better implementation of this section.
The note justified that the matter of political parties declaring their revenues, assets, and sources should be addressed through an Act of the National Assembly, which would provide the necessary provisions for the effective implementation of that requirement.
“The deletion of these requirements reflects a shift towards a more flexible regulatory framework for political parties. It also aims to reduce administrative overheads while still ensuring accountability through other means, such as regular reporting to the electoral commission,” it further explained.
