By Elijah Phompho & Ayamba Kandodo, MEC Stringers

CHIKWAWA-(MaraviPost)-Lack of police unit and health centre emerged as major highlights during the Makhuwira South Ward councilor debate organised by the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Public Trust over the weakened for the contestants in the November 10, 2020 polls to outline their development plans once elected as ward councilor for the area.

The five candidates who were from- Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), United Democratic Front (UDF), UTM, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and one independent; among other things also promised to improve people’s livelihoods in the area by ensuring that local farmers find markets for their produce.

However, speaking during an interview after the debate at Mitondo Primary School in Traditional Authority (T/A) Makhuwira in Chikwawa, Group Village Head (GVH), Savala implored on the candidate, who shall be declared a winner in the by-election to ensure in fulfilling the promises being made, saying the past leaders for the area betrayed them by not honouring what they pledged.

He particularly singled out the absence of a health centre and a police unit as some of the outstanding campaign promises previous leaders failed to keep.

“Our only hope is that the up-coming ward councillor shall make sure that we have a police unit and a health centre in this area,” stressed the chief

“At the moment its difficult for the people in the area to access police services which can be found at Chikwawa boma, a distance of 30 kilometres from hear. The area also does not have a health facility,” he pointed out.

On his part, Chikwawa Nice civic education officer, Joseph Chamambala said he was impressed with the way the Makhuwira South ward aspirants articulated their development plans.

He, however, asked the aspirants to have an interest in understanding principles of decentralization for them to know their roles better once elected.

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioner, Steven Duwa, who graced the event, expressed satisfaction with the turn out of people during the debate, saying it is an indication that people in the area will come out in large numbers to cast their vote come during the polling day.

He, however, expressed dismay after noting that it is only Nice which is carrying out awareness campaigns for the by-elections despite the electoral body accrediting several organisations to carry out awareness campaigns

Makhuwira South Ward become vacant following the demise of the ward councillor, Manick Ganet who was accidentally shot by police officers when wrangles erupted following grievances surrounding compassion after they were relocated to pave way for the construction of Thabwa Fatima Livunzu East-Bank Road.

By Elijah Phompho, MEC Stringer

The Malawi Electoral Commission ( MEC) Commissioner Steven Duwa on Thursday, October 22, 2020 called on some representatives of religious leaders and some representatives of teachers alongside their pupils in some schools in Chikwawa to assist in mobilising more voters to cast their vote in the the November 10 by elections.

Speaking when he addressed about 50 religious leaders from various denominations at Mitondo primary school in Chikwawa East Constituency, Commissioner Duwa said since the electoral body is no longer convening public meetings like in previous elections due to the corona virus pandemic restrictions, the electoral body is relaying on the religious leaders to help in passing the election messages to their followers.

Commissioner Duwa said apart from ensuring that as many people as possible cast their vote come next month,the religious leaders also have a role to ensure that both voters and political parties maintain paece through out the electoral period.

He added that the electoral body is also engaging schools in the country to help in disseminating the election massages through their learners and teachers instead of organising football bonanzas as a means of reaching the masses with the electoral massages at once like in the 2019 Tripertite elections.

Commissioner Duwa therefore called on some pupils alongside their teachers found at Mchacha,Mitondo, Mpama and Wolewole Primary schools in Makhwira South Ward to take the election messages to their homes.

“To day I have met representatives of religious leaders of some churches that are in this ward. The idea is that they should help to wool their followers to take part in the forth coming by election in large numbers. They should also help in sensitizing their followers to ensure peace through out the electoral period.

I also met some school learners alongside their teachers in some schools that are in this ward to lobby them to take this election messages to their homes. At the end of the day we want to ensure that we have reached as many people as possible with the election message”, said Commissioner Duwa.

On his part Reverend Rex Mindozo who is the Chairperson for the eastbank Pastors Fraternal promised to wool his followers to take part in the election.

Head teacher for Mitondo primary school MacLean Nkhambala also said he was willing to disseminate the information on the importance for the citizens taking part in an election.

Makhwira South ward fall vacant following the death of the ward councilor for the area Maneck Ganet who was accidentally shot by a police officer when angry villagers protested over their compensation after they were displaced to pave way for the construction of Thabwa Fatima Livunzu road.