Voting is a constitutional right, and in a democratic society citizens have a right to choose leaders they want.
As Malawi is gearing up for a national suffrage next year, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) is conducting a phased voter registration exercise nationwide to register voters for next year’s polls.
The exercise, which started on October 21 2024 has three phases, and is scheduled to end on December 11 2024.
However, stakeholders in the electoral processes, including opposition political parties, have raised concerns on low turnout of registrants citing myriad reasons.
While it may be a case of disinterest, voter fatigue, electoral myths and misinformation, among other factors that create disenfranchisement among some eligible voters, to others, it may be a case of sheer laziness.
A visit to some districts in the Central and Southern regions under ‘Phase Two’ of the voters registration showed mixed reactions on turn up of vote registrants.
While some were queuing to register, admitting that they have a duty to do so, others shunned the process, saying they are fed up with the conduct of politicians.
Flora Sonjo, 62, from Ntcheu said she is tired of voting because politicians have failed to solve constituents’ needs.
“Our area has many problems. But the most critical one is lack of potable water. Here, we are still sharing water with monkeys in streams,” said Sonjo from Dzoole II Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Kwataine in the district.
Sonjo, who requested this reporter to accompany her to the stream where the constituents draw water from, decried that they feel like strangers in their own country.
“Look at this. This is the water that we consume, yet every five years we vote for leaders to rescue us from this problem. With this situation, how do you convince me to vote?” she queried.
Sonjo observed that politicians in the area just worry about enriching themselves, not improving people’s living standards.
“They have fed us lies for a long time. We are fed up, and most of us feel discouraged to vote,” she said with finality.
Mphatso Lackson from Traditional Authority (T/A) Chigaru in Blantyre North Constituency said living standards have dwindled in the country due to lack of leaders’ vision.
He also said leaders prioritise their well-being as opposed to citizens’.
“Now, where does one get the courage to go and register to vote for the same people who are not helping us?” he wondered.
But Elinati Chipwaila from Lupasya Village in Traditional Authority Wimbe in Kasungu shares a different view.
Chipwaila, a mother of three, who was found registering at Livwezi Primary School in the area said she came to register because she wants to vote in next year’s elections.
“It is my responsibility to choose good leaders who can transform the country. If we don’t vote, then who will vote?” she asked.
The quadragenarian says if one chooses to stay away from voting, it means that person is not wishing this country well.
“I have children and the best I can do is to vote to ensure continuation of development in the country, which my children will benefit from, too,” she said.
She is not alone! Chikumbutso Chibweza, a youth from Chapuma Village in Traditional Authority (T/A) Chakhaza in Dowa echoes her sentiments.
Chibweza believes that shunning elections does not provide solutions to problems communities experience, rather creates other problems.
“I always tell my friends that shunning elections will not provide solutions to the problems because if they don’t vote, they give chance to bad leaders to win,” he said.
Chibweza underscored the need for well-meaning youths to vote.
“While voting is not compulsory, but good citizenship entails that one should register and vote to elect desired leaders who can develop the country,” he stressed.
In line with these mixed reactions regarding registration and voting, the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has taken upon itself an initiative to intensify efforts to educate people on the importance of registering to vote.
Nice is using a ‘360 degrees’ strategy, or approach, to disseminate voter mobilisation to eligible voters across the country.
The strategy means using all available mediums, such as community meetings, mobile vans, letters and door-to-door visits, football bonanzas, night criers, radios, newspapers, dramas and jingles.
Nice Trust executive director Gray Kalindekafe said in an interview on the sidelines of the closing of the second phase of the voter registration that the exercise is a pillar that upholds the entire electoral system “because it determines who will vote”.
He said people should not give an excuse of not registering to vote because they are fed up by politicians, but, take it as another opportunity to elect good leaders.
“People’s participation in an election is the benchmark of democracy. We understand, the society is made up of different people with different ways of understanding things.
“This is the reason we are using this approach to ensure no one is left behind in the registration process,” he said.
Kalindekafe said they will continue with such initiatives as registration is entering the third phase in eight councils, namely Mangochi, Mangochi Municipality, Chikwawa, Nsanje, Mwanza, Lilongwe, Lilongwe City and Mzimba.
“This approach has always worked for us and with a team of volunteer cadres, approximately 12 000 and programme officers in all the districts nationwide, we are confident of reaching everyone,” he assured.
Blantyre Nice Trust programme officer Glory Ngosi Maulidi touted the 360 degrees strategy, saying it played magic in wooing people to register, especially during the advanced stages of the phase two.
“During the first days, people were not coming in numbers, but after moving around with our mobile vans, we saw figures trebling,” she said.
Maulidi said she is impressed with the turnout of registrants.
However, whi le they are indicating their satisfaction with the turnout, Nice programme officers for Kasungu, Dowa, Ntcheu and Zomba have appealed to MEC to consider extending exercise to specifically accommodate those who failed to register due to technical glitches.
Mean while, MEC communications officer Richard Mveriwa has expressed satisfaction with the results of the two phases, saying they were impressive.
“At the moment, I cannot give you the figures because we will issue a formal statement which will include relevant figures,” said Mveriwa.
In what could be described as the power of Nice’s 360 degrees approach, both Sonjo and Lackson rescinded their decisions and registered on Wednesday, two days before the second phase closed, and they are eagerly waiting to vote next year.
“After thinking carefully, I decided that I should go and register so that I can vote for someone who will solve our water puzzle,” re-affirmed Sonjo.
