Electoral stakeholders including political party leaders in Lilongwe City have recommitted their push to uphold values for sustaining peace enjoyed in the first half of the electoral campaign period underway.

The commitment has been made through the signing of a Lilongwe City peace declaration by district governors of political parties and cooperation guidelines between District Peace and Unity Committee and Multiparty Liaison Committee at the city council.

“These cooperation guidelines are intended to promote peaceful elections by clarifying roles, ensuring coordination and fostering mutual support among the DPUC and MPLC at the district level.

“These (guidelines) support existing peacebuilding initiatives and complement ongoing efforts by MPUC, Malawi Electoral Commission, Center for Multiparty Democracy and other partners,” reads part of the declaration signed by DPUC and MPLC chairpersons Mirza Imtiazbeg and Dr Mclaud Kadammanja respectively.

Chairperson for Malawi Peace and Unity Commission Bishop Mary Nkosi challenged political party leaders to make sure that their supporters live the peace they are confessing and pledging on papers after training and discussions on peace.

“So far so good…..we are noticing that there’s some semblance of silence in terms of conflicts and violence. So we are believing that the messages have been spread far and wide and that people have now grasped the importance of keeping peace and being united during the campaign period,” Bishop Nkosi said after the signing of Lilongwe City Peace Declaration.

She expressed optimism that the peace declaration “will go a long way in changing the narrative of Lilongwe as a hotspot of political violence during electoral campaigns.”

Nkosi’s sentiments were echoed by CMD Executive Director Bonface Chibwana who described the first half of the campaign period “generally” peaceful.

“This is the most contentious election but the official campaign period seems to be one of the most peaceful,” Chibwana said, urging political party leaders and their supporters in the city to embrace tolerance “if we mess up in the city, the tensions spill over to other corners of the country.”.

Lilongwe DPUC chairperson, Imtiazbeg, conceded that they have a big task to make Lilongwe a model city where peace is sustained throughout the campaign period and beyond announcement of election results.

“Everybody is watching us within and outside Malawi. Where there is peace, there is development progress therefore we will intensify monitoring exercises to ensure that minor squabbles do not escalate into political violence,” said Imtiazbeg.

Chief Executive Officer for LL City Council who is also chairperson for Multiparty Liaison Committee Dr Kadammanga said engagements and trainings with stakeholders including political parties on the importance of maintaining peace throughout the electoral process seem to be paying dividends.

United Nations Development Program is supporting political party leaders, district peace and unity committees and other partners with skills on resolving election disputes and conflicts throughout the electoral cycle.