By Jones Gadama
In a bid to ensure peaceful and fair general elections in Malawi, the Project Officer for the Women’s Legal Resources Centre (WOLREC), Ireen Mtonga, has called on faith leaders and traditional chiefs to play a pivotal role in leveling the playing field for all aspiring candidates.
The elections, scheduled for September 16 this year, have sparked a flurry of activities aimed at promoting democracy and good governance in the country.
Mtonga made the call during an engagement session organized by WOLREC in partnership with Oxfam and funded by the European Union. The session, which brought together faith leaders, traditional chiefs, and other stakeholders, aimed to promote peaceful and fair elections under WOLREC’s Democracy Project.
“We urge faith leaders and traditional chiefs to help create an environment that allows all aspiring candidates to compete fairly,” Mtonga said. “This can be achieved by promoting peace, unity, and tolerance among the electorate,”she added
Mtonga emphasized the need for politicians to understand their rights and boundaries during the campaign period.
She noted that politicians should refrain from using insulting language or distributing handouts to voters, practices that are prohibited by law.
“Politicians must be aware of their responsibilities and obligations during the campaign period,” Mtonga said, adding that,”They should avoid engaging in practices that could undermine the integrity of the electoral process.”
The WOLREC official’s call was echoed by one of the participants, Hanji Mussa, who pledged to work with fellow stakeholders to promote peace and unity throughout the election period.
“We are committed to promoting peace and unity in our communities,” Mussa said, adding that,”We will work tirelessly to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.”
The engagement session is part of WOLREC’s efforts to promote democracy and good governance in Malawi.
Through its Democracy Project, WOLREC aims to empower citizens, particularly women, to participate in the electoral process and hold their leaders accountable.
The project also seeks to promote a culture of tolerance, peace, and unity among the electorate.
By engaging faith leaders and traditional chiefs, WOLREC hopes to leverage their influence to promote peaceful and fair elections.
In Malawi, faith leaders and traditional chiefs play a significant role in shaping public opinion and influencing the behavior of their followers.
By engaging them in the electoral process, WOLREC hopes to promote a culture of peace, tolerance, and unity that will contribute to the conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections.
The call for faith leaders and traditional chiefs to promote fair elections comes against the backdrop of concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Malawi. In previous elections, there have been allegations of vote rigging, intimidation, and violence.
However, with the engagement of faith leaders and traditional chiefs, there is hope that the September 16 elections will be conducted in a peaceful and fair manner.
By working together, Malawians can promote a culture of democracy and good governance that will contribute to the country’s development and prosperity.
As the country heads towards the elections, it is essential for all stakeholders to work together to promote peaceful and fair elections.
Faith leaders and traditional chiefs have a critical role to play in shaping public opinion and influencing the behavior of their followers.
By promoting peace, unity, and tolerance, faith leaders and traditional chiefs can help create an environment that allows all aspiring candidates to compete fairly. This will contribute to the conduct of free, fair, and transparent elections that reflect the will of the people.
The call by WOLREC’s Ireen Mtonga for faith leaders and traditional chiefs to promote fair elections is a timely reminder of the importance of promoting democracy and good governance in Malawi.
By working together, Malawians can ensure that the September 16 elections are conducted in a peaceful and fair manner, paving the way for the country’s development and prosperity.
