he Registrar for Political Parties, Mere Vuniwaqa, has reminded existing political parties that they will be wound up if they do not meet the deadline of midnight tonight to comply with the terms of the Political Parties Decree.
The Registrar said any assets owned by the parties which did not register would be forfeited to the State. “It is clearly in the interests of the existing parties to register if they want to avoid this”, she said.
Ms Vuniwaqa pointed to the provisions of the Decree which apply beginning tomorrow and said it was important that they be fully understood.
“After midnight, no association of persons or organisation may operate, function, represent or hold itself out to be a political party until they are registered under the decree. This applies to both existing parties who have made their applications or new parties that are still to be formed”, she said.
For existing parties, they must wait until their applications are assessed. If approved, they will be registered under the Decree and resume operating as political parties.
For new parties, they will be able to meet informally to organise themselves and make their preparations but they must not operate, function, represent or hold themselves out to be a political party until they are approved and registered under the Decree.
The Registrar said it was important that both those in existing parties and those looking to form new parties understood their obligations under the Decree. “ Any non compliance carries the prospect of heavy fines or prison terms. We want all parties to operate in good faith and for this to be a transparent process.
We look forward to hearing from existing parties by midnight tonight and new parties in the future”, she said.
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