Nice to ensure successful tripartite elections

The National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) has said it is geared to make Malawi’s 2014 tripartite elections a success.

Nice board of trustees chairperson Bishop Francis Kaulanda said this on Monday during Nice’s regional meeting for the North held in Mzuzu City.

The meeting was aimed at updating stakeholders and reflecting on the current status of Nice as a public trust.

He said as a trust, Nice will work with the Electoral Commission (EC), non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), faith-based organisations (FBOs) and other stakeholders to ensure that the elections are free and fair and that the electorate participate in an informed manner.

Kaulanda said the regional meetings were part of the step towards achieving successful elections.

He said the trust is determined to prepare and start mobilising the electorate as early as March 2014.

“I wish to confirm that we, the trustees of Nice, want a vibrant and viable Nice that will contribute to the success of the 2014 elections and be there forever.

“To ensure that this is a reality and Nice starts collaborating with EC in preparing for 2014 elections, the trustees have resolved that

District education officers (DEOs) whose contracts expired in December 2010 should report for duty on December 1 2012 so that Nice gets ready for the elections,” said Kaulanda.

The board chair also said with funding from the European Union and the Malawi Government, it has the financial support to conduct civic education.

He said EU was responsible for 75 percent of the trust funding.