Nice promotes good governance

The National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Public Trust says it is now directing its energies towards the promotion of good governance, transparency and accountability among duty-bearers to ensure poor people are enjoying the fruits of democracy.

Nice executive director, Ollen Mwalubunju, made the remarks on Monday when he officially opened a three-day quarterly training and planning meeting for southern region district civic education officers (DCEOs) in Blantyre.

Mwalubunju said after conducting a successful civic and voter education for the May 20 2014 Tripartite Elections, it was important that the organisation shifts its focus to civic empowerment and community mobilisation for a systematic engagement of duty-bearers that guide delivery of social services.

He also emphasised that there is need for regular civic education in empowering communities with knowledge on their rights and responsibilities in all aspects, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural perspective.

“Our dream remains that our civic education should bring about meaningful transformation and tangible empowerment among our communities so that they learn to demand what rightly belongs to them. We won’t rest until we see people in Ndirande and Limbe voicing out their concerns when utility bodies such as Escom and Blantyre Water Board are failing to provide them better and quality services,” he explained.

Mwalubunju further stated that his organisation will endeavour to equip local persons with necessary skills to enable them participate in social and political platforms.

He disclosed that the organisation will transform its district and rural resource centres into one-stop resource centres where people can get all key information on democratic governance.