By Margret Praise Kalua

Nkhata Bay, April 22, Mana: Commissioner for Malawi Peace and Unity Commission (MPUC), Professor Francis Mkandawire has reiterated the need for people to promote peace and unity in order to attain Malawi 2063 aspirations. 

Mkandawire said this on Friday at Chikwina Trading Centre in the area of Senior Chief Nyaluwanga in Nkhata Bay during the end of an advocacy campaign which the District Peace and Unity Committee (DPUC) had been conducting in six Traditional Authorities (TAs) in the district.

He said it is everyone's responsibility to ensure peace and unity prevails in the country, noting that development cannot progress well when there are conflicts.

"Without peace and unity, various plans cannot materialize. Countries where there is no peace, people spend all their energy quarrelling, fighting and all their resources are wasted towards those kind of violet activities.

"Government thought it necessary that there must be a Peace and Unity Commission in place to coordinate matters so that all players in the peace architecture are engaged," Mkandawire said.

In his remarks, Principal Administrative Officer for Nkhata Bay District Council, Moses Jere emphasized that differences in culture, tribe, political affiliations, among others, should not be a cause for conflict but should be an advantage for people to learn from one another.

Senior Chief Malanda expressed optimism that the advocacy campaign will help in reducing conflict such as chieftaincy wrangles.

The advocacy campaign was aimed at building peace and unity among community stakeholders ahead of 2025 general elections with funding from United Nations Development Fund.