LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Key stakeholders in the forthcoming Malawi’s fresh presidential elections slated for June 23, 2020 National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) on Thursday, June 11, 2020 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for credible polls.
The three organisations are into the pact jointly undertake initiatives that minimise electoral related violence and ensure accountability to combat impunity in dealing with political violence.
Addressing joint news conference in the capital Lilongwe after signing MoU team leader Boniface Chibwana, who is also CCJP National Coordinator disclosed that the pact intends to track electoral related incidents including political violence for appropriate and timely interventions and remedies.
According to Chibwana, about 6,000 monitors have been recruited for polls across the country.
NICE Trust’ Executive Director Ollen Mwalubunju insists the relevance of the MoU with little time arguing that preparation for the elections started way back.
Mwalubunju assured the nation for vigorous monitoring and evaluating every bit of the polls.
Below is the full MoU statement on NICE Trust, CCJP and PAC partnership in ensuring the credibility of the fresh presidential election;
Introduction
The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) and the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) wish to inform the nation that they have agreed to work together in partnership to undertake a joint voter education and election observation for the fresh presidential elections following the courts’ nullification of the May 2019 presidential elections.
Their agreement to work together comes against a background of the need for Malawians to be adequately informed on the forthcoming fresh presidential elections.
There is need that all electoral stakeholders and service providers should put up a rigorous and comprehensive civic and voter education and mobilisation campaign.
Such voter engagement is crucial now that Malawi is holding the fresh polls for the first time and that there have been new dynamics and changes on the country’s political and electoral landscape
The three bodies shall therefore work together to fulfill their common goal and mutual responsibilities under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), while affirming and preserving their different identities.
This MOU does not preclude each partner from working independently with other organisations engaged in civic and voter education, election observation, peace building and promoting political tolerance as well as championing disability inclusion in the electoral process to meaningfully realise the genuine inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in the fresh presidential elections.
Under the MOU the three organizations have agreed to:
To track electoral related incidents including political violence for appropriate and timely interventions and remedies.
To document and publish assessment of stages of the electoral processes following the electoral calendar issued by the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC).
To facilitate dialogue and where necessary undertake transformative conflict resolution processes.
To establish and engage all electoral stakeholders on issues of concern in order to contribute towards a credible electoral process.
To conduct joint civic and voter education activities.
To conduct joint long-term and short-term election observation for the fresh presidential election.
To train and deploy long-term and short-term observers for the upcoming fresh presidential election.
To jointly manage the Election Situation Room.
To conduct joint dialogue, social cohesion and peace building activities.
To jointly undertake initiatives that minimise electoral related violence and ensure accountability to combat impunity in dealing with political violence.
To jointly undertake stakeholders dialogue sessions (engaging MEC, Malawi Police Service, Malawi Human Rights Commission, CSOs etc).
To conduct joint press briefings, media statements and engagements.
To jointly map up resources, identify resource gaps and undertake resource mobilisation initiatives for the realisation of the objectives of this MOU.
Mutual responsibilities and individual member electoral responsibilities
While the consortium members will undertake individual responsibilities under the MOU, there are specific mutual responsibilities to be carried out by all partners to enhance coordination.
These mutual responsibilities include: resource mobilisation and consolidation of resources into a basket fund; stakeholders engagement on electoral interventions; media relations on the fresh polls; messaging on Covid-19; press briefings and statements; election observation; civic and voter education and mobilisation; field monitoring and sharing of reports; engagement on emerging issues that may potentially affect the electoral process such as Covid-19 and blood sucking rumours, fears and myths and joint proposal development.
Conclusion
The salient feature in the determination of the credibility of an election is independent observation and monitoring.
The three organizations have been independently and individually carrying out electoral observation and voter education activities in the previous elections including the May 2019 polls.
It is envisioned that the concerted efforts and planned interventions under the consortium will go a long way in enhancing the integrity and legitimacy of the electoral processes during the forthcoming fresh presidential elections. Together we can realise a free, fair, peaceful, inclusive and credible fresh presidential election in Malawi. It begins with all of us!
Signed by;
1.National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust, Ollen Mwalubunju Executive Director
2.Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), Boniface Chibwana, National Coordinator
3.Public Affairs Committee (PAC), Robert Phiri, Executive Director
