National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE) Trust in Neno has sent its volunteers on a door to door voter civic education campaign to ensure all registered voters in the district cast their votes in the May 21 tripartite elections.
Speaking on Monday after a one-day planning training, NICE Trust Civic Education Officer for Neno district Walasi Kudzala said the strategy would help by a larger extent since they will be able to interact with the voter and explain the importance of participating in the elections.
Kudzala addressing nice volunteers
“We thought it would be effective if we visit every household, having a face-to-face conversation with almost every single voter to ensure people come out in large number during the voting day. There is a section of people that are usually reluctant to participate in polls, this is where we will get a chance to give them a few lectures on the importance of taking part in elections and make their voices heard through vote,” said Kudzala.
Kudzala said in some cases when they organize public meetings not all people attend due to some reasons but with this strategy the message will be delivered to them while in their homes without spending time hunting for voter information.
“That’s why today we have trained our volunteers to expand our voter civic education to all areas in Neno. This will make sure that no one is left behind in accessing important information about the election process,” added Kudzala.
He said apart from door-to-door visits, NICE will also use other communication channels including community radio programming, public meetings in trading centres, and theatre performances.
Speaking after the training, one of the NICE volunteers Hasting Mazimba who is Area Civic Education Coordinator for Mizemba block said apart from mobilizing people to vote they have also been trained on how they are going to educate voters how to mark ballot paper as one way of reducing null and void votes during the May 21 tripartite elections.
