However, with the prevalence of Covid virus and the rate at which the virus is being transmitted, it has not been easy for some electoral stakeholders to mobilize and civic educate the masses.

The sentiments have been expressed by Mulanje NICE District Civic Education Officer (DCEO) Saiti Chikwapulo at a recent meeting in the district.

Chikwapulo says his organization has 20 Assistant Civic Education Coordinators (ACECS) in the district but community mobilization has not been an easy task.

“In the wake of Corona virus, it is not easy to reach out to as many people as possible. But little by little we are doing it and people are getting the messages. Let’s just hope that come the voting day, we will have a good turn out,” said Chikwapulo.

When asked to comment on the issue, MEC Assistant Civic and Voter Education Assistant Ndiuzayani Jinazali who is touring the country with a team of Constituency Civic and Voter Education Assistants from different districts, said their work as civic educators is not affected in any way by the Covid -19.

“Previously we had to use road shows to woo people to come to our venues but with the coming of Corona virus, the commission withdrew the road show component and replaced in with mobile Public Address system.

“So we are moving around giving out the necessary information. We are not stationed at one place,” said Jinazali.

Meanwhile large consignments of civic and voter education materials have been dispatched in districts for distribution. This is another move to creating awareness.

Written by Phillip Banda, MEC stringer