Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) has expressed confidence that its civic education initiatives have reached a wide section of the electorate and that Malawians will turn out in large numbers to vote in tomorrow’s general election.
Speaking on Saturday during a training for youth election observers in Mangochi, CHRR programme officer Maxwell Mvula said they are pleased with the level of electoral information and peace messages delivered to communities.
He said: “We have been engaging young people in Mangochi to spread peaceful messages and to raise awareness about the elections through various activities.
elections. | Ayamba Kandodo
“Judging by the environment, I am convinced that we have done the needful and people are simply waiting for the polling day to cast their votes.”
Mvula said through its Rise for Peace: Mobilising the Youths Against Electoral and Political Violence in Malawi’s 2025 General Elections project, CHRR has trained young people as peace ambassadors.
“Previously, Mangochi used to register cases of political violence involving youths. But there were no violence events in the just-ended campaign period and we attribute this to our intervention,” he said.
Mvula further urged the youth observers to remain vigilant on polling day to ensure that the elections are free, fair and credible.
“We want credible elections. Stay committed, remain on guard and never allow anyone, especially fellow youths to cause violence,” he said.
One of the participants, Vutsi Khonje from Kalonga Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mponda, commended CHRR for the training.
“We were in the dark about our roles in monitoring elections. Now we know we can play an important role as observers. This knowledge will help us carry out our work effectively,” he said.
Khonje pledged to remain alert throughout polling day.
CHRR is implementing the project in Mangochi with support from the German Federal Government.
