Sunday, May 10, 2009

Malawi Elections 2009 : Catholic priests urged to intensify voters civic education

The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) of  Chikwawa diocese has asked priests in the diocese to use the  pulpit to educate the electorate on the voting processes for  the May 19 elections to avoid null and void votes. CCJP coordinator for Chikwawa diocese Lewis Msiyadungu told  the priests at a meeting on Tuesday that they are better placed to provide such civic and voter education because of  the church's structures.
 
 "Time is running out. There are only two Sundays to  the elections and I urge you to use the two days to give
 that civic education," said Msiyadungu.   He said that apart from the two Sundays, the priests could  also use other days when Christians meet in their small  communities.
 
 Vicar General of the diocese Fr. Cosmas Chatsukwa said the  priests were eager to conduct the civic education to reduce  numbers of null and void votes.
 
 Chatsukwa said Chikwawa diocese was among the areas that  had highest numbers of null and void votes in the 2004  elections and "we want to reverse that situation".Chikwawa diocese has 14 parishes and covers Chikwawa and Nsanje districts. He also dislcosed that Chikwawa diocese was among the best  civic educators for the registration exercise according to  Malawi Electoral Support Network.

AEP

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