NGO-Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) has urged monitors for women aspirants in Nkhata Bay District to be alert and professional when discharging their duties during the September 16 General Election.
NGO-GCN member Dorothy Chiumia said this on Friday during the training of monitors in the district.
She said: “We want them to be as serious as possible when discharging their duties on the polling day [tomorrow] by observing every step in the voting process.
“This will ensure that the vote for the women aspirants is protected and the results are credible.”
Alliance for Democracy aspiring member of Parliament for Nkhata Bay West Mercy Limbani Kaunda said she expects the elections to be free and fair as monitors have come from different political parties.
“Some voters do not know what they are supposed to do and these monitors will be able to guide them because they have been trained to do so. I hope also that the elderly, people with physical disabilities and those that do
not know how to read and write will be assisted accordingly,” she said.
Nkhata Bay District gender officer Gift Mwambungu said the training is crucial as it will help enlighten the monitors about what is expected of them during voting and counting processes.
“We urge them to conduct themselves professionally and to abide by the Malawi Electoral Commission’s code of conduct,” he said.
A monitor representing People’s Development Party, William Chirwa, from Chintheche said he will be at the polling centre as early as 5am.
About 17 women aspiring candidates are contesting for parliamentary and local government elections in the district.
NGO- GCN is implementing Political Empowerment of Women Project in the district with support from UN Women
