NICE urges youths to coexist before, during and after the September 2025 general elections – Malawi Nyasa Times

The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Public Trust has called on Malawian youths to become agents of peace as the country prepares for general elections scheduled for September 2025.

While briefing young people from different political parties on the newly amended electoral law, Daniel Malango, NICE’s project officer for Deza and Lilongwe Rural, said young people must not be used to commit any form of violence but should be agents of peace during elections.

“Play your rightful role in promoting peaceful politics by supporting your fellow youths participating in the upcoming elections,” Malango explained.

Malango further urged the youths to raise awareness and register in large numbers during the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) registration exercise which will commence in September 2024.

“People need to be aware that registration for next year’s elections will open in September 2024, but under the amended electoral law, only those with a valid national identity card can register,” Malango noted, adding, “Hence, your duty is to inform those who do not have a national identity card to register first with the National Registration Agency and then with the MEC.

Furthermore, Malango explained that the law is very clear about the penalties that will be meted out to those who commit acts of violence during elections.

“If you engage in any form of violence during the election process, the law will not let you off just because you belong to any political party,” Malango warned.

However, MCFoster Banda of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) said it was the responsibility of the youths to campaign peacefully for their party to ensure their victory in the upcoming elections.

“If we promote violence, we might deter some voters from voting,” Banda noted.

But Democratic Progressive Party MP Leyelo Kalulu complained that the country’s political parties were not treated equally when it came to political violence.

“Some political parties are let off by the police whenever they break the law, which makes us feel unsafe in areas where these parties are considered dominant,” Kalulu noted.

The training session attracted participants from UTM, DPP, MCP and UDF and was supported by the EU chilungamo project.

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