NGO champions peace ahead of 2025 Tripartite Elections

Centre for Social Concern has embarked on peace-building initiatives in traditional authorities Timbiri and Mkumbira in Nkhata Bay District ahead of the 2025 Tripartite Elections.

Speaking on Wednesday during an Inter-Religious Dialogue Peace Building interaction with Timbiri Area Development Committee (ADC), the centre’s programmes officer Tobias Jere said peace was a catalyst for development in a community.

He said: “The project’s first phase will take us up to the campaign period for the 2025 Tripartite Elections. It is our hope that we will have built capacity for all key stakeholders, especially the youth and women on the importance of embracing peace.

“As you are aware, the youth are mostly used to disrupt political rallies and beat up opponents during electoral campaigns.”

Timbiri ADC chairperson John Katongomala Chunda welcomed the project.

He admitted the high level of intolerance in his area during political campaigns, saying it has at times, led to loss of life and property.

Chunda said: “This project has come at the right time. Most incidents of violence in my area would have been prevented if we had this project.

“However, we will work with faith leaders, youths and women groups on the importance of coexistence and political tolerance.”

In her remarks, Martha Nkhata, 39, said as women, they were pleased to be the pioneers of peace-building initiative ahead of the elections.

“Political violence disrupts our businesses and our daily lives. Children fail to go to school and it leaves others injured. We need to embrace mindset change to tolerate one another because we all cannot belong to one political party,” she said.

Nkhata Bay District Peace and Unity Committee chairperson  David Kandawire commended the centre for the project, saying his committee had no resources to meet local stakeholders on peace-building initiative.