Nice for peace ahead of poll
National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Public Trust has pleaded with President Peter Mutharika, other political party leaders and Parliament to ensure that an enabling environment prevails ahead of the fresh presidential election on July 2 2020.
Nice Executive Director, Ollen Mwalubunju, Wednesday also said there is need to conclude electoral reforms which the Constitutional Court ordered.
“I want to appeal to all stakeholders in the forthcoming fresh election to ensure that the election is done in a free and fair environment. There is need to clear all critical issues as observed by the Constitutional Court,” Mwalubunju said.
He said if such issues are not resolved, they can undermine the election as was the case in the May 21 presidential poll.
Mwalubunju said there is need for Mec and political parties to investigate allegations that some unscrupulous people are snatching national identity cards and allegations that minors are being registered. Recently, National Registration Bureau dismissed such reports.
Mwalubunju said his organisation has welcomed the electoral calendar which Malawi Electoral Commission (Mec) has released and is geared to provide civic and voter education to all Malawians.
Centre for Multiparty Democracy Chairperson, Kandi Padambo, agreed with Nice on the need for stakeholders to work towards ensuring a conducive environment for the fresh election.
The Constitutional Court in Lilongwe on February 3 2020 nullified the May 21 2019 presidential election results on the basis that they were marred by grave and systematic irregularities.
