Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has called for proposals from interested and talented musicians to compose and record the official theme song for the 2025 general elections.
The electoral body’s director, media and public relations, Sangwani Mwafulirwa, said yesterday that the theme song will be used for civic engagement and branding for 2025 elections.
“It will be used to establish a distinct brand identity by creating a recognisable and memorable sound image, which can be beneficial in promoting trust and credibility among the public,” Mwafulirwa said.
He said they were aware that music evokes emotions, hence they expect that the theme song will help to create a positive atmosphere.
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“We want a catchy and uplifting theme song that can set a positive tone for electoral events, rallies and other activities contributing to a more enjoyable and engaging experience for participants,” Mwafulirwa said.
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He also said that the lyrics of the theme song will convey important messages about the electoral process, the importance of voting, and civic responsibility of citizens to register and to vote.
“This educational aspect can help enhance public awareness and understanding of the electoral system. The song will also be used in advertisements, social media campaigns and other promotional materials to reach a wider audience and create a positive image of the elections,” Mwafulirwa said.
Mec says as a constitutional body created under Section 75 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi to supervise and direct the conduct of all statutory elections, namely presidential, parliamentary, local government and referenda, they were set for the theme song process.
In addition to this, Mec says it also has the “mandate to exercise its functions according to provisions of Section 76 of the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi.
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Among its duties and functions, Mec says it has the mandate to promote public awareness of electoral matters through the media and other appropriate and effective means and to conduct civic and voter education on such matters as per (Section 8 (1) (j) of the Malawi Electoral Commission Act).
Mec further says that the theme song should be catchy, memorable and easy to sing along and that it should be suitable for live performances and recording and represents the diverse cultural heritage of Malawi.
The deadline for submission is January 31 2024.
Musicians Union of Malawi President Vita Chirwa has commended Mec for the move to engage creatives, particularly musicians, in coming up with the theme song.
“We need more of such because it is part of challenging us to create quality work,” Chirwa said.
