Authorities have intensified their consultations with relevant stakeholders on a bill that is being formulated with the aim of bringing sanity to civic education activities in the country.
Known as the Civic Education Bill of 2023, the draft bill is, among other issues, proposing a K20, 000, 000. 00 fine to individuals and organizations that will carry out civic education activities without being accredited by relevant authorities.
In an interview with MIJ Online today, during a regional validation meeting on the draft bill in the southern district of Thyolo, Dr Misheck Yagontha Munthali, who is the director of Civic Education in the Ministry of Local Government Unity and Culture, noted that once enacted, the piece of legislation will create a conducive environment for the provision of civic education services in the country.
Dr Munthali added that the bill will also ensure that these civic education services are provided in a well-coordinated manner in the country.
“To achieve this, the bill is proposing the establishment of a National Civic Education Council to regulate, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate the provision of civic education services in the country in accordance with principles of transparency, effectiveness and efficiency,” said Munthali.
The formulation of this law is being implemented through GOPA Worldwide Consultants, with funding from the European Union.
This far, consultations on the bill with relevant stakeholders, that include traditional leaders and district councils, have been done in Northern and Southern Regions.