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Confusion over national registration in RU


People in Rumphi are said to be confusing the ongoing mass registration exercise with voter registration for 2019 Tripartite Elections.

Speaking on the sidelines of an awareness rally in Bolero, National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) district officer Mavuto Mkandawire quashed a deepening misconception that eligible Malawians will not vote if they fail to register in the exercise being carried out by National Registration Bureau (NRB).

Kapatakafinyi: We want
everyone to register

“This is the general belief here. we have intensified awareness campaigns to deal with this confusion. We are using music shows and talks in churches and mosques to disseminate the message,” he said.

NRB officials will roll out the mass registration in Rumphi West Constituency today.

In Rumphi, where the exercise begun last week, the r

esponse has been overwhelming as hundreds turned out to register at their nearest centres.

Group village head Kapatakafinyi from Bolero said people on the western side of the district are ready to register after several awareness meetings organised by Nice.

“As traditional leaders, we have agreed to be in the forefront in mobilising our people to register. We also have by-laws in our villages that provide penalties for those that ignore calls from chiefs and government. Once the exercise begins, we will trigger the by-laws to punish those who will not register,” he said.

In Nkhata Bay, Nice assistant district civic education officer Blessings Mahata said the public trust has deployed volunteers to spread information and ensure all eligible Malawians understand the benefits of the national registration exercise.

“So far, we have seen many people going to register and we hope many more will continue registering in the exercise,” he said.

Nice officials are touring the North along with musician Skeffa Chimoto to raise awareness. They will perform in Nkhata Bay today. n

 

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