Centre for Human Rights Rehabilitation (CHRR) has called on young people in Mangochi to become ambassadors of peace as Malawi gears up for the September 16 2025 General Election.
CHRR programme officer Maxwell Mvula said this on Thursday during a stakeholders meeting at Sub-Traditional Authority (Sub-T/A) Mponda where CHRR introduced a new peace-building initiative aimed at curbing political violence.
The initiative, dubbed Rise for Peace: Mobilising Youth Against Political Violence in Malawi’s 2025 General Election, seeks to empower the youth to actively engage in electoral processes and serve as peer educators on electoral matters.
Mvula said the project emphasises inclusive voter participation and peaceful elections.
He said they have identified 20 youths affiliated with various political parties who will undergo training as peer
educators to help prevent political violence.
Mvula warned that young people are often targeted by politicians to incite violence.
“Political violence not only endangers people’s lives and property but also stalls national development. We must empower our youths to resist manipulation and contribute to peaceful democratic processes,” he said.
A youth, Carolyne Nkhoma, commended CHRR for launching the initiative.
“Many youths in our communities accept handouts from politicians and end up participating in violence,” she said.
Mponda Area Development Committee chairperson Margaret Kaliwo also commended CHRR, saying the project will help address political violence.
CHRR is running the project with support from the German Federal Government.
