Chiefs in Dedza warn those not registering to vote risk fine
Traditional leaders in Dedza district have warned their subjects who are neglecting the ongoing voter registration exercise that they will pay fines, describing the development as worrisome as it is wasting government resources.
Speaking in an interview, traditional authority Chilikumwendo condemned people who are defying the exercise saying as citizens of Malawi they need to take part in issues pertaining to the development of the country.
“As in my case I will make sure that every individual who is at the voting age is participating in this ongoing exercise because this will enable them to vote in the 2019 polls. The country will not develop if people remain like this, everyone has a right to make a decision but this should not affect issues that are to do with development,” said Chilikumwendo.
Traditional Chilikumwendo added that nowadays people are being irresponsible due to several misconception about human rights.
“The sensitisations were enough, people are aware of what is happening on the ground but they chose not to register saying they have got rights. The issue is Malawians are used to flocking to donations not activities that will transform their livelihoods,” he added.
He then revealed the plans to conduct a door to door inspection after the exercise in Dedza to ensure that those who did not register should go to the next registration centers of the neighboring districts.
Chilikumwendo further said, the people will be ordered to pay a fine of a goat as an alarm for them to be responsible in development activities.
Commenting on the development, district commissioner for Dedza Ellis Tembo said as a council they engaged traditional leaders to assist in boosting morale regarding the exercise.
Tembo said chiefs have got their own tactics in making sure that people are responding positively to developmental issues.
“I am aware that chiefs are assisting in this registration exercise, and those are just measures they use. They are the ones who knows how to manage their subjects and am sure they do not necessarily mean to punish their subjects, ” said Tembo.
He however agreed with Chilikumwendo that this is a worrisome development to learn that people are shunning away from the exercise due to their personal grounds.
The development comes in amid persistent low turnout of people in registration centers in some parts of Dedza district pausing fears of low voters come 2019.
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Pamene zinthu zafikapa, I applaud the chief for his courage. Everyone needs to vote next year kuti mbava zonse zichoke. Voting has become a moral responsibility for Malawians.
Chiefs do not have the power to fine people for not registering to vote in elections. In a democracy, people have the right to register or not; to vote or not.
I agree with you Kada but then what is the solution? Let us urge people to go and register in large numbers so that we can boot out these thieves. The strategy adopted by the Dedza chief should be emulated by others.
Mr DC, you are also a liar. No should be punished for not registering. Why are you behaving as if you have not been to school? Punishing someone for registering really? You are the people who making this country remind us of Kamuzu Banda. Do not force people to register, make them see why they should register and vote. Also understand why people do not register. Address those issues, but not to penalise someone for not registering.
This can only happen in Dedza. This cannot happen in Ngoniland of Mzimba
kuzizira and ndi thawi yolima kachewere
Bravo chief. That’s what chiefs should do; not being used as we have been seeing. On a different note, I have always wondered why registration exercises always start in the centre. Why can’t we start with Thyolo and move to the centre after the exercise has been perfected? I think this is one form of rigging.
Amalawi atopa ndi ukamberembere komanso kudyeredwa masuku pamutu
Fine for not registering? The is abuse of power. People should to be fine for choosing not to exercise their freedom. It is not a must.
Bad news for MCP indeed. Ife ndiye kummwera tikukalembetsa tidzabvotelanso wathu. Chigawo chapakati changoganiza zotsalembetsa chifukwa sakumuona bwino chakwera. Ine kumangomva kukoma.
Last time I checked, Malawians were free to vote or not to vote. It is NOT a crime to not vote, is it? And one needs not to report to anyone about one’s voting intentions, who one votes for or whether one has not voted at all. Get with it, Chief: this is a democracy.