Malawi govt chokes NICE civic education activities
Government is to yet appoint a new board for the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Public Trust, raising fears that this will affect civic and voter education activities ahead of the 2019 tripartite elections.
With days before Malawians cast their ballots on May 201, stakeholders have since accused the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-led administration that it is systematically keeping NICE Trust out of the fore to ensure voters do not receive enlightenment on governance and issue-based campaign.
Mzuzu-based journalist and social commentator, Jackson Caesar Msiska, feels government is deliberately frustrating NICE efforts to level the political battlefield ahead of the polls.
“Since 1999, NICE Trust has played a leading role in providing civic and voter education (CVE) and in entrenching the culture of good governance and democracy through the civic education activities it conducts.
“I believe the DPP-led government is wary that enhanced civic education could increase the level of awareness among Malawians on the need to vote based on issues instead of region, tribe and ethnicity,” said Msiska.
A source at NICE Trust confirmed that they cannot go full throttle in providing the services because there is no board in place to authorise expenditure and other management decisions.
“And that is why we have been dormant all this time. The term of the previous board expired mid last year and, since then, we have been operating without the board. We have been pressing government to appoint a new board, but to no avail. We cannot spend without the board,” said the source who sought strict anonymity.
NICE Trust media and public relations officer, Grace Hara, confirmed that the body has been operating without the board.
But Hara refused to comment on the reasons behind government’s failure to appoint a new board could be politically-motivated.
“I don’t think so! I would like to believe that they (government) are still considering who to choose among the nominated individuals,” she said.
The Minister of Civic Education, Culture and Community Development, Everton Chimulirenji, whose ministry is responsible for the appointment of NICE board, said government would soon appoint the new board.
However, Chimulirenji could not commit himself on the actual date the board will be appointed to enable NICE Trust get on the road with CVE activities.
But Umodzi Party (UP) president Professor John Chisi feared it is too late for government to appoint the new board.
“I don’t think any CVC activity NICE Trust can take now will be effective. It’s too late and this only shows that we are a nation without morals,” Chisi.
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Ngati Minister akuthawa Debate angapange zanzeru? mbuli iyi Chimulilenji
ngati minister chimulirenji campaign akuthawira mmidzi inu simungawone kuti akufuna mbuli zikhale zambiri pa zisankho izi. adani a democracy ndi (1) umbili (2) umphawi. CHONCHO AKUFUNA ANTHU ASADZIWE ZOWONA . LET’S JUST EMPOWER CCJP iyinso imatha akuluakulu
THOUGH DPP WILL TRY TO MAKE ANY STUPID TACTICS THEY ARE NOT GOING TO WIN THESE ELECTIONS MARK MY WORDS
THE FALL OF BABYLON I REPEAT BABYLON IS FALLING
THEY ARE A BROOD OF VIPERS NOT READY TO HAND OVER THE POWER TO OTHER RULERS THATS WHY THEY PLAY SUCH IRRESPONSIBLE TACTICS, WOH TO YOU AND WOH TO YOUR LEGACY EVEN YOUR GRAND CHILDREN WILL BE EMBARRASSED TO IDENTIFY WITH YOU !! …………..ALL THEY SPECIALISE IN IS THE STASHING OF CASH IN CAR BOOTS AND BED ROOMS. THAT WHICH GOD HAS GIVEN YOU IS FOR UPLIFTING THE WEAK, THE NEEDY, THE HELPLESS NOT FOR INDULGENCE!!!!
I think iwe upitenso ku school, lots of spelling errors.
apa sipophunzilila grammer ayi ,apa pokambilana nkhani, ngati mukufuna grammer nde si pano ayi palibe amene amachonga mayeso pano. mwamva?
OSATI CHIZUNGUCHO CHANGOKUKULIRANI?
Zimakhuluku. Nthawi yawathera. Achoke tatopa nawo. Dziko kumayendetsa ngati sitolo yakwa Goliati.
Mzuzu Based. CSO mzuzu based, all from the north. Very active and til I namahara kuhumpha bachewa. Shaaaa. Why always north. Kwali use namahata ghitu
Zauchilulirenji zeni zeni
The DPP, MCP and UDF political parties thrive on the ignorance of the masses. That is why they say they have strongholds, which actually means people of a certain region, tribe or belt who are always ready to vote for them come rain or sunshine. Such parties cannot promote civic education for fear that it can enlighten their strongholds to think otherwise. Are you surprised that the DPP is not even attending presidential debates? They want to keep on keeping “their people” in the dark so that the party can continue enjoying blind loyalty from them.
Wawa dzozi