Community leaders in Mangochi have pledged to continue working together to maintain the prevailing peaceful environment to achieve a violence-free September 16 2025 General Election.
They made the commitment on Tuesday in the district during a meeting organised by Centre for Social Concern (CfSC).
Speaking during the meeting, the district’s local advisory committee chairperson Bishop Peter Likagwa said they will continue engaging political party followers to refrain from hate speech, violent acts, and castigation, among other negative things that fuel violence.
He declared: “We will also mobilise our youths to say no to people who sponsor them to cause havoc in our areas. Above all, we will meet all the shadow candidates and tell them we don’t want violence.”
Likagwa: We will continue engaging political party followers. |Ayamba Kandodo
Likagwa believes that sensitising politicians and their supporters, including the youth on the importance of tolerance will go a long way in preventing electoral violence.
Senior Chief Nankumba said he will mobilise fellow chiefs to propagate messages of peace to ensure that the district holds a successful election.
CfSC programme officer Tobias Jere said plans are underway to sign a memorandum of understanding with the current leaders and aspirants to ensure peaceful electoral processes.
CfSC hosted the meeting with funding from the Embassy of Ireland under a three-year inter-religious dialogue project which it is implementing in the district to foster peaceful co-existence among people of diverse backgrounds.
