The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) has asked political parties and civil society organisations (CSOs) in Zomba and Mangochi districts to join hands with the commission in sensitizing the masses on the need of taking part in the local government by-elections scheduled for September 26 this year.

MEC Commissioner, Francis Kasaila made the call during the inspection of voter verification and registration exercise ahead of the by-elections in Zomba Central Constituency’s Mtiya Ward and Mswaswa Ward in Mangochi.

“Some centers are doing better while others are not. This then calls for concerted efforts to make sure that the masses have been reached with the much-needed information about the elections,” he said.

Kasaila called on people to take the by-elections seriously as they will play a very big role in bringing in development projects in their areas.

Zomba Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Network chairperson Nicholas Mwisama welcomed the call by MEC for people to join the band wagon saying it is everyone’s birthright and that it cannot be compromised.

He however called upon the pollster to put them in their planning schedules rather than ignoring them and only remembering them when the process has already been rolled as it is the present case.

“Just imagine during the stakeholders meeting they conducted last time here in Zomba, we got an invitation in the night with only few hours to the meeting. How would we plan in that way? This is not good, and we believe MEC will do better next time,” Mwisama said.

The Malawi Electoral Commission will on September 26, this year hold byelections in Mtiya Ward in Zomba Central Constituency and Mswaswa Ward in Mangochi North East Constituency.

Mtiya Ward fell vacant following the death of the then UTM’s councillor, Ramzy Kajosolo while Mswaswa Ward became vacant after the death of the then United Democratic Front (UDF) councillor, Edina Yusufu Jose who was also Mayor of Mangochi Municipality.