Minister of Civic Education and National Unity, Timothy Mtambo, says the Peace and Unity Bill is expected to be presented in the August House during the current sitting for enactment.

Mtambo said the Bill seeks to promote sustainable peace and national unity arising out of harmonised and coordinated efforts in conflict prevention.

Mtambo said: “The Bill proposes the establishment of an independent, non-partisan and impartial Commission, which shall be the highest umbrella body and focal point of peace building, conflict prevention, conflict management, conflict resolution and transformation in Malawi.

The structure and functions of the Commission shall be replicated at local level through the work of District Peace and Unity Committees (DPUCs) to be established in all local councils.”

He added that there will be reduced cases of violent conflicts at national and local levels as a result of implementation of effective early warning and early response mechanisms to peace threats.

“The implementation of the Bill is expected to register an institutionalised and inclusive peace building initiatives that incorporate the participation of women, youth and people with disabilities,” he said.

According to Mtambo, his Ministry has been consulting several stakeholders on the establishment of the National Day of Unity and Cultural Heritage whereby Malawians from different ethnicities will be converging to celebrate Malawian culture with the aim of promoting cultural understanding, appreciation and cultural tolerance.

He said the idea is premised on the fact that cultural intolerance can trigger conflicts.