Young people rise up! – Activists make call
Governance and human rights activists say young people need to realize that abstaining from voter registration for the 2025 general elections is a guarantee of a gloomy future.
The concern came as voter apathy continues to threaten the exercise of basic human rights, especially when registration processes are well underway.
On Monday, the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) started the first phase of voter registration which is scheduled to run until November 3, covering all regions at designated locations.
Commenting on this, the Executive Director of the Women Legal Resource Centre – WOLREC, Maggie Kathewera Banda, emphasizes the call to encourage women to seize their voting rights and register within the specified timeframe.
Banda said: “I still believe that young men and women must not lose hope and decide to abstain from taking an active role in the voting process. There is always hope at the end of the tunnel and that hope starts by registering to vote.”
As the message has been flowing throughout the previous elections, the WORLEC head made an assurance to the citizenry to exercise their right to vote which starts at voter registration.
“Just because the previously elected leaders have not given the voters what they expected, does not and should not stop them from making new and sound decisions. Again, it all starts at this point – the voter registration” Banda narrated.
Meanwhile, a governance expert Undule Mwakasungula is urging Civil Society Organizations – CSOs to step up and mobilize young people to register in large numbers during this critical period.
He said: “It is important for every Malawian to understand that registering to vote is a constitutional right and a chance to elect the leaders of their choice. Simply put,”
“If they do not register, they will not be able to vote in next year’s elections, and this means that they will miss the chance to influence Malawi’s direction.”
MEC laws recognize an eligible voter as anyone above 18 years old, a criteria Mwakasungula strongly believes works for many of the youth who ae seeking a better nation going into the future.
“If you meet the eligibility criteria, make sure you register. Your voice matters, and your vote is your power,” He said.
Perhaps one can conclude that voter apathy may have recently been influenced by the 2019 general elections. An Afrobarometer report from 2020 showed that a majority represented by 55% of Malawians described the quality of the 2019 election as questionable.
Though the figures may be different now, the fear of voter apathy may still be in the shadows.
About The Author
