By Robert Nayeja

Nsanje, February 15, Mana: Electoral stakeholders in Nsanje hailed Women’s Legal Resources Center (WORLEC) and Oxfam for their commitment towards violent free 2025 general election.

Traditional Authority Nyachikadza noted on Friday that the two organisations have been on the ground in the district to ensure Nsanje attain violence-free elections.

“Traditional leaders sometimes stop candidates from holding political meetings. This also fuels violence,

“From WORLEC and Oxfam, we learnt that traditional leaders need to give equal opportunity to all candidates wishing to hold political meetings," said Nyachikadza.

Nyachikadza said was happy to see all political party representatives in the district interacting and sharing ideas during the stakeholder's meeting.

Malawi Congress Party, District Chairperson, Steven Kamanga said the meeting with WOLREC and Oxfam came up with better ideas for conducting primary elections to avoid political violence.

“We are going to use a secret ballot so that people should choose freely the candidate of their choice. This will help to reduce political violence during primary elections,” he added.

WORLEC Project Officer, Ireen Ntonga said the organization is advocating for free and fair elections by encouraging women youth and persons with disabilities to participate in politics.

“Political parties will soon hold primary elections and we want to encourage them to open for the youth, women and people with disability to compete,” she added.

She therefore appealed all political parties to mobilise their followers to embrace multi-party multiparty democracy and think of a violent free electoral process.

Apart from traditional leaders, UTM, Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Democratic Front (UDF) representatives, and civil society organisations attended the meeting.

WORLEC and Oxfarm are currently implementing; the Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy project in Malawi with support from the European Union.

The project seeks to increase the participation of women, youth and marginalised groups in decision-making positions and political processes ahead of the 2025 general election.