Foundation for Civic Education and Social Empowerment (Focese) has asked youths in Nsanje to refrain from being used by politicians in perpetuating violence as the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections draw closer.
Focese programme manager Pemphero Banda made the appeal on Tuesday during a debate it organised in Nsanje Lalanje Constituency through a Dan Church Aid project called Youth Inclusion, Participation and Empowerment II.
She observed that politicians have been using youths to instigate violence during elections because of their vulnerability.
Banda noted that the United Nations (UN) resolution on Youth, Peace and Security (SCR 2250) recognises the role of youths in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and urges their representation in decision-making bodies.
She, therefore, called on politicians to avoid instilling the spirit of fear, discrimination and division among people as they are poisonous to politics and relationships and also endanger peace.
“In an effort to give the youth an opportunity to appreciate what the candidates have in store for them, we arranged a number of debates in different constituencies so that the youth should make informed choices during voting,” said Banda.
Group village head Kalupsa thanked Focese for bringing together candidates and offering them a platform to sell their manifestos.
