The National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has called on residents of Nsanje District to actively attend political rallies and engage with candidates’ manifestos ahead of the upcoming elections. The initiative aims to empower voters to make informed decisions at the ballot box.
Speaking at Nyachipere Community Day Secondary School during a political debate organised in collaboration with local stakeholders, Nsanje District Nice civic education officer Kondwani Malunga emphasised the importance of public participation.
“Our objective of the debate is to provide a platform for candidates to sell their manifestos to voters for them to have an opportunity to assess the candidates through facts presented,” he said.
Malunga added that the initiative also seeks to promote accountability by documenting campaign promises, allowing citizens to hold elected officials responsible for their pledges.
“Through the debate, we are also promoting peaceful engagement and tolerance among political party supporters, mobilising people to vote on September 16, as well as demonstrating to voters how to mark the ballot correctly to reduce null and void votes,” he explained.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Nsanje South Constituency civic voter education assistant Monica Chimombo reminded voters that polling stations will close at 4pm on election day.
She urged residents to arrive early and refrain from wearing party colours while casting their votes.
Local leaders, including Group Village Head Simoko, praised Nice Trust for promoting civic responsibility and voter education in the community.
During the debate, former legislator Ramzan Juma Mahomedi, running as an independent, and Edwin Thom Ola of the Malawi Congress Party presented their manifestos to the audience, outlining their plans and priorities if elected.
Nice Trust is facilitating these debates with funding from the European Union under the Boma Lathu Project, reinforcing the organisation’s commitment to informed, peaceful, and participatory democratic processes in Malawi.
The programme reflects ongoing efforts to ensure that citizens are well-prepared for the September elections, highlighting the role of civic education in strengthening Malawi’s democratic institutions.
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