By Tikondane Vega, MANA
National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust in Thyolo has embarked on a 14-day election registration sensitization campaign using a mobile van to encourage all eligible people to register for the forthcoming fresh presidential election.
Thyolo falls in the second phase of the voter registration exercise which started on Monday and will run up to May 10, 2020.
Other districts in the second phase include: Rumphi, Likoma, Dowa, Lilongwe District, Lilongwe City, Luchenza Municipality, Phalombe and Mulanje.
District Civic Education Officer for Thyolo, Moses Kaunda told Malawi News Agency (Mana) at the beginning of the campaign the initiative aims at mobilising more people to register, especially those who did not register in the past but have now attained the voting age of 18.
Kaunda said NICE would like to reach the whole district with messages regarding voter registration, saying the institution is targeting all markets including Luchenza, Goliati, Thunga, Bvumbwe, Thekerani as well as Makwasa.
“Of particular interest is that Thyolo NICE Office is combining two messages of voter registration as well as COVID-19 prevention measures such as observing social distance and frequent hand washing with soap.
“We are disseminating COVID-19 prevention messages taking advantage of the registration sensitisation within the district.
“NICE has also put posters in strategic points about voter registration and we have also sent letters to religious leaders so that they can also pass on messages of registration to their members,” said Kaunda.
The NICE official further said the institution has deployed volunteers across the district to engage with traditional leaders with registration messages so that they spread the same to their subjects within their localities.
“People should see the importance of registering for them to vote and to choose their leaders through the ballot. In this way, we can create a nation that can make its own decisions without undue influence.
“We are also taking advantage of social media such as WhatsApp to send messages to different groups about voter registration and this approach is proving to be the best because we have been receiving feedback from the same platforms,” he added.
Meanwhile, MEC has said it is aware phase one ended prematurely, as such, will revisit the councils covered after the last phases of voter registration to ensure that all registration centres have run for the minimum statutory period of 14 days.
