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NICE Trust in K500m Hunt for Fresh Presidential Election Activities

Mwalubunju: Nice Public Trust needs support Mwalubunju: Nice Public Trust needs support File Photo

The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Public Trust says funding gaps are affecting its effective implementation of electoral activities ahead of the fresh presidential election.

NICE Public Trust Executive Director, Ollen Mbwalubunju, told Zodiak Online Friday that while the trust awaits funding boost from partners. The organization is, meanwhile, using staff across the country to relay electoral messages but aware that this is not adequate.

“To effectively implement electoral activities ahead of the fresh presidential poll, we require about 500 million Kwacha hence, we are looking for support on the same,” he said.

He says discussions with partners are at an advanced stage and there is optimism that financial support could be secured.

However, a political analyst working with the University of Livingstonia, George Phiri, fears that election results for the forthcoming election will likely be affected if key electoral stakeholders such as NICE Public Trust are not effectively on the ground to civic educate the masses.

“NICE Public Trust is one of key electoral stakeholders and their role is critical for fair and credible elections. A bail out on the same is helpful ahead of the fresh poll,” he said.

On 3 February 2020, a five-high-court-judge panel sitting as the Constitutional Court sitting in Lilongwe nullified the 2019 presidential election in which MEC had declared President Peter Mutharika as  the winner. The court said the election was marred with massive systemic irregularities.

The ruling was later upheld by the Supreme Court of Appeal after Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) and President Peter Mutharika appealed against the Constitutional Court judgment.

Malawi is expected to hold a fresh presidential election within 150 days from February 3, 2020. The 150 days will have expired by close of business on July 2, 2020.

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Last modified on Sunday, 07/06/2020

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