The Institute for Policy Interaction (IPI) has emphasized the need to extend civic education beyond the voting process, saying elections are an ongoing process.
IPI Executive Director Nandini Patel highlighted that with a possibility of having a second round in the current elections, to maintain peace after first round and avoid voter apathy in second round civil education should continue.
Patel was speaking at a panel discussion on elections at the University of Malawi in Zomba, organized with funding from the United Nations Development Programme.
Fourth-year Political Science student Aubrey Chibwana expressed frustration that most first-year students might not vote as they didn’t register at the school but, appreciated the event as timely, saying students are often left out of such discussions.
Stuart Chauluka, Acting Executive Director of the Malawi Union of the Blind, also thanked IPI for the platform, highlighting that people with visual impairments are having challenges accessing election materials and civic education.