By Wanangwa Tembo

Kasungu, February 9, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) programmes officer for Kasungu Gerald Chirwa has challenged the youths in the district to exercise the highest level of political tolerance in the run-up to the September General Elections.

Chirwa said in an interview on the sidelines of voter mobilisation activities in the district on Saturday that the youths must refuse to be used as agents of violence in the electoral process but that they must take productive roles.

“We reiterate our call for the youths and everyone else in general to take productive roles in the entire electoral process so that we have peaceful polls.

“The youths in particular should aim not only to vote but also contest for positions rather than just being used to fight opponents. They should express interest to contest whether as councillors, Members of Parliament (MPs) and the presidency as well," Chirwa said.

He said political leaders must also lead an issue-based campaign and avoid inflammatory remarks that would compromise the peace needed in the election process.

“This is a period dominated by campaign activities and our call for tolerance extends to the political leadership as well because violence leads to low participation in polls and consequently compromises the legitimacy of those elected,” he said.

Chairperson for Kasungu Civil Society Network, Braxton Banda said democracy can only thrive if people participate in the electing of leaders and therefore asked people to come out in large numbers during the polling day.

“We must guard our democracy and the only way to do that is to participate, and those contesting in leadership positions must be realistic in their campaigns by promising things they will do because, at the end of the day, they are to be held accountable for that.

“Unrealistic promises lead to frustration of voters, the very reason we see people shunning away from registering as voters today, so we must be honest enough in what we tell the people,” Banda said.

According to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) consolidated preliminary figures of registered voters, at least 7,200,905 people are expected to cast their ballot to choose councillors, MPs and president.