As the sun sets over Ntchisi District, Dolofe Tsitsi, 52, is shelling maize outside her home.
Her hands weathered by years of hard labour, she cannot read or write.
“I didn’t go to school. My parents couldn’t afford it,” Tsitsi regrets.
This lack of formal education complicates her participation in democratic processes, especially elections.
In 2019 elections, Tsitsi queued to vote at the nearest polling site.
“When my turn came, the names of faces on the ballot meant nothing to me. I only recognised the symbols of some parties,” she says.
The voter needed someone to help her vote.
“I wasn’t even sure if I voted correctly,” she laments.
For voters like Tsitsi, illiteracy creates a significant barrier to independent participation in elections.
They rely on oral campaign messages, leaving them vulnerable to misinformation or manipulation.
“I wish I could read their manifestos and plans for us, especially for women and farmers,” Tsitsi says. “Sometimes, I feel like I am just choosing blindly.”
The National Statistical Office 2018 census estimates that 31.4 percent of adults in the country are illiterate. This reality poses significant challenges to electoral fairness and inclusivity.
DVV International communications and programme officer Dyson Mthawanji says illiteracy reduces voters’ understanding of the electoral process, access to written campaign materials and decision-making.
“It also makes them more susceptible to manipulation, undermining the integrity of the democratic process,” he states.
As Malawi prepares for the September 16 General Election, DVV International, which provides adult education, is advocating for short-term and long-term solutions to enhance the electoral participation of illiterate voters.
“These programmes must use simple language, visual aids and interactive methods to explain how to register, vote correctly, and understand the significance of participating in elections,” says Mthawanji.
He recommends vernacular audio-visual materials such as videos and radio programmes that not only highlight the importance of voting but also provide clear, step-by-step voting procedures.
DVV International urges government and non-State actors to intensify adult literacy programmes.
“When people learn to read and write, they can understand electoral messages, evaluate candidates’ promises and participate in governance meaningfully,” he says.
Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) spokesperson Sangwani Mwafulirwa concurs that illiteracy affects effective voter participation.
He says the commission uses several approaches to ensure every voter gets electoral messages with ease.
“For those unable to read, we have radio and TV messages which they can listen to and get to know about elections. We also use public meetings such as road shows and community rallies,” says Mwafulirwa.
For Ronald Manda, 46, from Saulos Ngulube Village, Traditional Authority Chindi in Mzimba District, MEC and potential candidates are not adequately reaching remote areas where access to television and radio is limited.
“I have lived here all my life and I rarely see MEC and political party presidents conducting awareness campaigns in this hard-to-reach location.
“Previously, the build-up to the elections [then scheduled for May] often coincided with the rainy season, when most roads here become impassable. Now that the elections will be held in September, we expect better from MEC,” he says.
Manda appeals to the election management body and candidates to take their campaign meetings and voter education footprint to remote communities, where over 84 percent of the population lives, according to the 2018 census.
Political parties also recognise the need for effective communication strategies targeting voters who cannot read or write.
People’s Party (PP) secretary general Ben Chakhame says good communicators analyse their audience before sending a message.
“As PP, we know that knowledge levels have a big impact on how one understands the messages, so we must package ours in a user-friendly way,” he says. “People listen more with their eyes than their ears, so we must present our messages using visuals or things they can relate to.”
United Democratic Front (UDF) national spokesperson Dyson Jangia echoes the need for tailor-made campaign messages to accommodate all voters.
He states: “Spoken messages at rallies or whistle-stop tours will be bilingual or multilingual, including local native languages. Music and drama too will be encouraged to be in vernacular languages.
“To avoid mistaken identity, UDF encourages the use of our symbol of holding hands and our yellow colour.”
Section 12(c) of the Constitution makes “informed democratic choice” a fundamental principle of democratic governance.
It reads: “The authority to exercise the power of the State is conditional upon the sustained trust of the people of Malawi and that trust can only be maintained through open, accountable and transparent government and informed democratic choice.”
As the electoral mood rises, ensuring that all eligible voters, regardless of their literacy levels, can make informed choices at the ballot box remains a challenge.
