Long Walks to Register Worry Malawians
"Some people are aged and cannot stand in lines for long periods of time," said John Hashishi, a local resident.
NSANJE, Malawi - Communities in the area of Senior Chief Mlolo in Nsanje have expressed concern over walking long distances to access the National Registration Bureau (NRB), an issue that may affect voter turnout in next year's elections, writes Cornelius Lupenga.
"Some people are aged and cannot stand in lines for long periods of time or walk many kilometers to the centers," said John Hashishi, an area resident who spoke to AfricaBrief on Saturday.
The whole Nsanje North region has only three voter registration centers, Hashishi said, leading to long lines and congestion at locations like Mbwazi Primary School.
This forces some people, especially the elderly, to give up on registering, he said.
United Democratic Front Ruo Ward Councilor Marko Molotali agreed, saying people from areas like Makhanga, Mchacha and Osiyana walk about 10 kilometers to reach the Mbwazi Centre.
Ruo Ward has only two registration centers at Mbwazi and Sankhulani, which Molotali said is insufficient for the ward's population.
"The set dates of January 13th to 27th, 2024 are not enough, hence the need to extend due to the limited number of registration points," Molotali said.
He alleged the NRB registration supervisor at Mbwazi Primary School uses inappropriate language that deters locals from registering.
"Some people are aged and cannot stand in lines for long periods of time," said John Hashishi, a local resident.
The NRB has not yet commented on the situation.