PETRA leader calls on political parties to concentrate on educating voters
People’s Transformation Party (PETRA) leader, Kamuzu Chibambo has rebuffed political commentators’ suggestion for political parties to form coalitions now in preparation for the 2014 elections.
He called on political parties to concentrate on educating the masses on why they should elect them come 2014 rather than considering coalitions now.
Chibambo was reacting to remarks made by political commentators advising those political parties who would like to join hands to rather do it now than later as late arrangements confuse voters.
He said such decisions cannot be made now since they develop based on people’s expectations and circumstances that may arise along the preparation period.
“All options are open, whether to form a coalition or not but that will depend on how things unfold as we approach the elections in 2014,” said Chibambo.
He however, stated that the most important area of the preparations now is on civic education. He highlighted the country’s level of illiteracy which necessitates intensive education on the voters considering that the forthcoming tripartite elections are more complicated than the elections we have had previously.
Concurring with Chibambo, Young Politicians Union patron, Hawkins Munyenyembe emphasized on the importance of having an informed electorate if the much talked about tripartite election is to yield results. He said Malawians need to make informed decisions if they are to choose right leaders during the elections.
He said as an organization responsible for the welfare of youths in politics, they have embarked on educating the young ones in order to prevent them from being exploited during this crucial elections preparation period.
“The campaign is meant to cover the whole nation but so far we have only been to a few districts in the north,” Munyenyembe explained.
Young politician’s organization is a body of young politicians whose agenda is to protect young people from political exploitation. The group was established in 2003 and registered as a political youth group in 2005. –-Malawi News Agency
