By Chisomo Kambandanga

Nkhata Bay, November 9, Mana: The second phase of the Malawi Electoral Commission's (MEC) voter registration exercise has begun in Nkhata Bay with a notabe turnout of potential voters for the 2025 General Elections eager to have their names in the electoral register.

According to MEC's District Elections Officer for Nkhata Bay, Peter Mukhula, this positive start sets a tone for a successful registration period expected to run up to November 22nd.

"All 186 centres were open at exactly 8:00 a.m. and so far, the turn up is impressive as you can see and we are hopeful that this will continue up to the last day," said Mukhula.

According to Mukhula, the awareness campaigns to woo people to register are still underway.

He added that adequate staff, with some on reserve, have been deployed to all centres and National Registration Bureau staff are available to help on national identity card issues to make sure that all eligible voters are registered.

One of the people who turned up for registration at Nkhata Bay Admarc Registration Centre, James Banda aged 18 said he is happy to have been registered and he is ready to cast his first vote in the next year's general election.

"Let me advise my fellow youths to come and register because the process is not taking long,” he added.

Another potential voter at St. Maria Gollet Registration Centre, Wilson Banda aged 74, said he understands that his vote counts in next year's general elections, hence the decision to get registered on the first day.

According to Registration Centre Supervisor at St. Maria Gorretti, Gladys Misomali, about 60 people had already registered in the first two hours after opening the centre, indicating a strong start of the voter registration process.