The National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) organised a solidarity march in Salima on Tuesday, aimed at fostering unity and peace among political parties ahead of the September 16 General Elections.
The solidarity march, which brought together representatives from political parties, civil society organisations, and community members, aimed to foster dialogue, tolerance, and mutual respect as campaigns intensify across the district.
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Speaking during the event, Acting Director of Administration for Salima District Council, Light Burton, who represented the District Commissioner, stressed that a violence-free election is possible if political aspirants put the district’s development before personal or party interests.
“When political leaders come together with a shared vision for development, we create an environment where peaceful elections can thrive. Violence has no place in our democracy,” Burton said.
Civic Education Officer for NICE, for Salima Queen Mataya, said the solidarity march was one of the organisation’s many interventions to promote peaceful coexistence during the electoral process. She emphasised that bringing together different political parties was a symbolic yet practical step toward unity.
“We want to show that despite political differences, we are all one people, and our collective interest is the growth of Salima and Malawi as a whole,” Mataya said.
Civil Society Chairperson for Salima, Joseph Kandiyesa, highlighted the role of civil society organisations in safeguarding electoral integrity. He said CSOs are committed to monitoring the electoral process to ensure it is free, fair, and credible.
“Our role is to facilitate understanding among all stakeholders so that elections are conducted transparently and peacefully,” Kandiyesa said.
The solidarity march started at Kaphatenga and proceeded through major streets before converging at the District Council premises, where stakeholders signed a peace pledge reaffirming their commitment to non-violence during the election period.
