By Burnett Munthali
The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) has intensified its voter awareness campaign in Dowa district, aiming to encourage citizen participation in the upcoming voter registration exercise for the 2025 general elections. As part of the effort, NICE held a road show at Chizolowondo to inform and engage the local community on the importance of registering to vote.
Dowa District Programmes Officer, Alinafe Chikakuda, led the event, emphasizing the critical role that each citizen plays in shaping the country’s future by participating in the electoral process. “It is vital that every eligible voter understands the significance of registering and ultimately voting, as this is their opportunity to influence governance and hold leaders accountable,” Chikakuda told the audience.
Community member Harrison Kunkhunthe commended NICE’s awareness campaign and urged the organization to broaden its outreach within Dowa to ensure that as many people as possible are informed about the registration process. “NICE’s efforts are commendable. It would be great if they could expand these initiatives to reach all corners of the district so that no one is left out,” Kunkhunthe said.
The second phase of the voter registration exercise is scheduled to run from November 9 to November 22, 2024, covering Dowa as well as other districts, including Nkhatabay, Rumphi, Likoma, Zomba City, Blantyre City, Thyolo, Luchenza, Kasungu, Mchinji, and Ntcheu.
NICE’s campaign is part of a larger initiative funded by the European Union (EU), which aims to bolster civic education and drive higher voter turnout across Malawi. The EU’s support underscores the importance of an informed and active electorate in ensuring a credible and inclusive election process.
With the 2025 elections approaching, NICE’s work in Dowa and other districts is crucial to empowering citizens to take part in the democratic process, fostering a culture of civic engagement, and ultimately strengthening Malawi’s democracy.
