JB registers to vote

Phase four of the registration exercise for the 2014 Tripartite Elections started in Zomba on Wednesday with President Joyce Banda being among the people to register on the first day at Malemia Primary School registration centre in Zomba Malosa Constituency.

Speaking to journalists after obtaining her voter registration certificate, the President said she went to register on the first day of registration to demonstrate that people have the right to register and vote, especially those in rural areas.

Said Banda: “I would have chosen to register at the State House, but I have come here to register with the people at grass-roots level because I was born here and I would also like to encourage Malawians to register in large numbers for them to vote for the councillor, member of Parliament and the president of their choice during the forthcoming 2014 Tripartite Elections.”

Voter registration in Zomba, according to the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), started yesterday and will end on September 24.

Commenting on the registration of the First Citizen who was accompanied by the First Gentleman, retired chief justice Richard Banda, MEC chief elections officer Willie Kalonga said the President has set the pace to encourage more people to register for the elections in the country.

In a related development, Zomba District Council director of planning Mac Donald Kalongonda, who is also in the District Elections Supervisory Team (Dest), assured all that registration materials have been sent to all the centers in the district.

Phase four of registration is covering Zomba, Machinga and Balaka districts.