By Ivy Yohane

Blantyre, October 19, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust in Blantyre has embarked on a district wide awareness campaign to mobiles eligible citizens to get registered for the 2025 general election.

NICE Trust, District Programme Officer for Blantyre, Glory Ngosi Maulidi, told the Malawi News Agency (Mana), this week that (during the awareness) the trust emphasizes on; citizens’ democratic right to vote, duties and responsibilities of president, members of parliament and ward council councilors in democracy and good governance.

“More civic education will centre on the negative effects of handouts so that voters are not manipulated by handouts. We will also make emphasis on peace building to prevent conflicts and violence during campaign period and elections and after elections results,” she added.

Maulidi said that NICE trust faces challenges during this campaign citing that some people were showing no interest to take part in elections.

“Some people still vow not to vote but we keep on encouraging them to vote because it is their democratic right. We also having mobility problem as NICE Zone Coordinators fail to conduct door-to-door mobilization because they have vast area to cover, “she added.

In a separate interview Political Analyst, Chimwemwe Tsitsi, commended NICE Trust for embarking on civic education, saying this was timely and necessary as this will contribute to high voter turnout for the registration.

“Civic education is crucial in attaining higher turnout. In every election there are new voters, those that have just reached 18 and probably new procedures in the voting process.

“With illiteracy levels in some areas, this justifies need for intensified voter civic education,” the political analyst said.

He observed that limited information on general election and related electoral procedures has potential to prevent people from voter registration.

“There is need for social media to be used vigorously alongside conventional media and traditional face-to-face initiatives as well as using text messages sent directly through the mobile service providers to ensure that as many people as possible are reached,” Tsitsi added.

Voter registration in Blantyre will run from November 9 to 22, which is phase two of the voter’s registration.