Nice to conduct political debates in Karonga by-elections

Karonga, March 18, Mana: National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust says it will conduct political debates for candidates in the local by-elections in Karonga to give the electorate a chance to directly engage the contestants and make informed choices.

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) will administer the by-elections in Chilanga and Rukuru wards of Karonga North West Constituency and Kaporo Ward in Karonga North Constituency on Tuesday 26 March.

The wards fell vacant in September last year after their respective councillors – belonging to Malawi Congress Party (MCP), UTM Party and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) – were convicted for fraudulently receiving K2.4 million from vendors in exchange for plots.

Speaking Saturday during voter mobilisation activities at Ngerenge in the district, Nice District Civic Education Officer for Karonga and Chitipa, Mavuto Mkandawire said just like any other polls, the by-elections are another opportunity for the electorate to exercise their right to vote and elect leaders of their choice.

He said: “We will conduct political debates so that people in the three wards have an opportunity to engage the candidates directly and make informed voting choices. We want them to vote solely based on issues and not personalities or other factors.

“The debates are another opportunity for us to show the electorate that they are important stakeholders in the elections and in so doing they will see the importance of turning out in large numbers to vote.”

Mkandawire said voter mobilisation activities have been intensified to ensure a high turnout in the polls that have attracted 21 candidates of whom only one is female.

“So far we have dispatched letters to all prayer houses in the wards where the elections are taking place. These letters are asking all eligible voters to go and cast their ballot and will be read in 250 churches and mosques.

“In addition, we are conducting road shows, sports bonanzas, radio talk shows, loud hailing and carrying out door-to-door mobilisation activities. The idea is that our messages should reach each and every voter,” Mkandawire said.

District Elections Officer for Karonga, Elias Nyirenda, said the electoral body is also on the ground mobilising people to turn out and vote.

“We have been engaging traditional and religious leaders looking at their important role in ensuring a peaceful electoral process and also that they should help with mobilisation.

“Additionally, we have been conducting civic education activities focusing on the actual voting process, electoral offenses, coexistence and other themes in a quest to have a peaceful process in which all eligible people freely participate,” said Nyirenda.

At least 68,461 people are expected to cast their vote, choosing amongst UTM Party, Malawi Congress Party, Democratic Progressive Party, Alliance for Democracy and National Development Party candidates and independents.